Tuna Market Report - Thailand - June 2009
Thai canned tuna exports expand further
The reduced tariff quota on canned tuna, the so-called Cotonou compromise quota, for Thailand, Indonesia
and the Philippines
ended in June 2008 and it was not renewed. Canned tuna is a key issue in
EU-ASEAN discussions for a free trade agreement (FTA), and reduced tariff
access to EU markets will come in the context of such an FTA. However, Thailand in
particular continues to be very strong in its opposition to the present EU
tuna tariff regime, and Thai representatives continue to demand that EU tuna
tariffs are liberalised. In addition, the Philippine industry requested that
the Cotonou
compromise quota be extended and the volume expanded.
Thai canned tuna exports recovered from the 2007 low. They increased by 8% to
506 000 tonnes, still far off the 2006 record level of 560 000 tonnes. While
2007 had been characterised by high raw material prices, which led to lower
exports, 2008 was a profitable year for the Thai industry. Canned tuna prices
of exports from Thailand
declined in the course of the year stimulating traders’ interest, especially in European
traditional markets.
However, in the last quarter of 2008 (October – December) the export of canned tuna from Thailand
experienced a negative trend as a result of the economic crisis. During this
period the total export declined by 52% from 225 000 tonnes in 2007 to only
108 000 tonnes last year. Except for the USA, exports to other major markets showed
sharp decline during this period (October – December) such as Saudi Arabia (-70.9%) Libya (-41.34%), Egypt
(-34.9%), Japan (-7.8%)
and Australia
(-3.5%).
Despite the return of buying interest from Europe, Thailand continued with its
successful diversification of markets. Exports of canned tuna to Egypt (+38%) and Libya (+17%) grew strongly in the
course of the first nine months of 2008. The Arab world as a whole represents
about 20% of Thai canned tuna exports. These markets are likely to grow
further in coming years.
However, the main market for Thai canned tuna continues to be the USA, with
about 20% of total exports. 2008 saw a good recovery of this market, after a
disappointing 2007, but total exports of 95 000 tonnes are still a far way
off the record level of 111 000 tonnes of 2005.
Canned tuna markets are quiet due to the current difficult and unpredictable
situation in the tuna industry. After a sharp decline in skipjack raw
material prices, to around USD 900 tonnes at the beginning of January 2009,
it seems that the price is moving up again to USD 1 100 due to low catches. However,
lower production in April, due to the holiday period, coupled with normal
quantities of supply from the Western and Central Pacific allowed Thai
packers to push the May price of skipjack to USD 950/tonne and lower, down
USD 150 per tonne from the April price level. By the end of April, however,
it was clear that increasing demand coupled with lower than expected levels
of supply had already reversed the market price trend.
As a result of the unbalanced supply situation, most packers are taking a ‘wait and see’ attitude to let the situation
settle down. Offers from packers are consequently very rare.
The overall drop in tuna raw material prices from the sky high levels one year
ago, has also affected the price of canned tuna. The price of canned chunk
skipjack in oil from Thailand
has dropped from USD 36.50/carton last autumn to USD 25-26/carton recently on
the German market. Prices of Thai canned tuna in the US market has also recently stabilized in the US market at
about USD 21.50/carton.
The economic crisis has had an important impact on the canned tuna market,
especially in Europe. The share of
private-supermarket labels in the main markets has increased. This is mainly
due to lower prices of private labels, reported sometime 20-40% lower than
the corresponding branded canned tuna. Therefore producers that have a strong
tradition of collaboration with private labels, such as Thailand, are
favoured by these developments. Overall, it is expected that canned tuna
consumption will go up during this recession, as canned tuna is considered an
affordable source of protein.
Higher raw material prices likely
With Indian Ocean continuing catching at reduced levels, lower catch in the
Western Pacific and possible demand for imports from the Western Pacific by Latin America processors and usual demands from import
dependent markets, shortages of raw material are expected in June through
August 2009.
Europe has demonstrated itself to be very
price sensitive. Therefore 2009 should see higher imports, as canned tuna
prices have dropped recently and in general canned tuna is a very competitive
product compared to other sources of animal protein. However, the impact of
the economic crisis still has to be fully felt by the EU member countries. Therefore
importers are likely to continue for a “wait and see” tactic, in order to assess the real
demand for canned tuna in European countries. At the end of the day, canned
tuna prices are expected to stay at their present level for several more
months to come.
|
