This report focuses on harvests, imports and prices of bluefin tuna in Japan.

ASIA

Japan

Northern bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus and Thunnus orientalis)
Southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii)

Fresh

Prices

The average CIF price of fresh bluefin (HS 030345000 and 030346000) imported by Japan in August was JPY 1,942/kg, up 32% on that of the previous month and 8% on that of August 2017. During the eight months, the average was JPY 1,723/kg, up 3% on that of the same period last year.

Table 1: Average price at Japan Customs,
in JPY/kg

Source: Japanese Customs

Graph 1: Average price at Customs of fresh bluefin Japanese imports,
(HS 030345000 and 030346000), 2014–2018, in JPY/kg

Source: Customs

Markets

During the month analysed, about 744 tonnes of fresh bluefin were imported, worth JPY 1445 million at Japan Customs.

These figures are down 31% in volume and 8% in value on those registered during the previous month. Compared with August 2017, imports increased 20% in volume and 30% in value.

Graph 2: Japanese imports of fresh bluefin,
 2014/2018

Source: Customs

During the eight months of the year, imports reached 4,786 tonnes worth JPY 8,245 million, up 19% in volume and 23% in value on those of the same months in 2017.

Graph 3: Cumulative monthly Japanese imports
of fresh northern bluefin, 2014/2018, in tonnes

Source: Japanese Customs

The main supplier of northern bluefin (Thunnus thynnus and/or Thunnus orientalis) was Mexico during the period, with 2,441 tonnes and JPY 4,875 million.

Graph 4: Imports of fresh southern bluefin,
cumulative monthly, 2014/2018, in tonnes

Source: Japanese Customs

So far, Australia has exported 866 tonnes to Japan, worth JPY 1,117 million.