BANGKOK — Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, Director of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO) of the Thai Ministry of Commerce, announced on Friday the export statistics for Thai canned tuna for the first nine months of 2024 (January – September).
The export value reached 1.851 billion dollars, approximately 65.98 billion baht, an increase of 20.73 percent compared to the same period last year.
Exports increased in all regions, particularly in North and South America, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The Americas region led the way with an export value of 632 million dollars, an increase of 17.90 percent, driven by the economic recovery in the US and Canada, Thailand’s major markets in this region.
The key markets include: United States: 402.39 million dollars, up 15.41 percent, followed by Canada: 102.43 million dollars, up 40.57 percent and Chile: 47.48 million dollars, up 6.01 percent.
The Asia and Middle East region recorded an export value of 618 million dollars, an increase of 14.98 percent. The Middle East in particular saw an increase of 38.97 percent due to concerns over the ongoing conflicts, which led to an increase in stocks.
Key growth was seen in Israel, up 103.43 percent; Lebanon, up 72.97 percent; and Iraq, up 110.31 percent. In Asia, Japan maintained high import volumes of Thai canned tuna, although the strong yen led to a lower export value.
Thailand’s primary export markets in Asia and the Middle East include Japan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. Export values reached 168.15 million dollars for Japan, marking a decrease of 17.88 percent due to currency fluctuations.
Saudi Arabia saw growth with exports valued at 110.91 million dollars, up 4.79 percent, while the United Arab Emirates recorded a significant increase of 55.30 percent, with export values totaling 100.91 million dollars.
Poonpong noted that for the African region, export values reached 247 million dollars, up 29.87 percent, driven by food insecurity and economic and political uncertainty in the region. Key markets included Libya, with exports valued at 124.62 million dollars, an increase of 12.62 percent; Egypt at 75.97 million dollars, up 106.17 percent; and South Africa at 28.87 million dollars, growing by 61.04 percent.
In Europe, export values were 170 million dollars, an increase of 42.48 percent due to European economic recovery and stockpiling of canned foods amid prolonged conflict. Ukraine showed notable growth at 72.81 percent.
Leading European markets were Switzerland, with exports valued at 30.92 million dollars, up 42.98 percent; Russia at 26.82 million dollars, increasing by 19.70 percent; and the United Kingdom at 26.76 million dollars, up 66.54 percent.
“Thailand has long held a leading position in the canned tuna market, with factors such as competitive labor costs, the economic and tourism recovery of key trading partners like the U.S. and Europe, and global concerns over conflict driving consistent export growth. However, with the strong baht and climate change reducing tuna supplies, Thai producers need to innovate and develop new products to sustain the growth of Thailand’s canned tuna market,” Poonpong concluded.
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