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 frozen bluefin (HS 030345000 and 030346000) imported by Japan in September was JPY 2,149/kg, up 11% on that of August and down 1% on that of September 2017. In the first nine months of the year, the average was JPY 1,767/kg, up 2% on that of the same period last year.
Table 1: Average price at Japan Customs,
in JPY/kg
Origin
|
Average price at Customs (JPY/kg)
|
% Variation
|
Sep/18
|
Aug/18
|
Sep/17
|
Sep/18 Aug/18
|
Sep/18 Sep/17
|
Spain
|
2,899
|
2,789
|
2,798
|
+4%
|
+4%
|
Italy
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Malta
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Greece
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
Turkey
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
-
|
USA
|
2,786
|
3,269
|
2,445
|
-15%
|
+14%
|
Mexico
|
2,090
|
2,035
|
2,031
|
+3%
|
+3%
|
Australia (SBFT)
|
1,232
|
1,503
|
1,341
|
-18%
|
-8%
|
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 556 tonnes of fresh bluefin were imported, worth JPY 1,195 million at Japan Customs.
These figures are down 25% in volume and 17% in value on those registered in the previous month. Compared with September 2017, imports increased 31% in volume and 30% in value.
Graph 2: Japanese imports of fresh bluefin,
2014/2018
Source: Customs
During the nine months of the year, imports reached 5,342 tonnes worth JPY 9,440 million, up 21% in volume and 23% in value on those of the same months last year.
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 2,733 tonnes and JPY 5,490 million.
Graph 4: Imports of fresh southern bluefin,
cumulative monthly, 2014/2018, in tonnes
Source: Japanese Customs
So far, Australia has exported 915 tonnes to Japan, worth JPY 1,180 million.
By DGA
www.fis.com