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)

Frozen

Prices

The average CIF price of frozen bluefin (HS 030345000 and 030346000) imported by Japan in April was JPY 2,070/kg, up 74% on that of the March and 311% on that of April 2017. During the four months, the average was JPY 1,646/kg, up 91% on that of the same period last year.

Table 1: Average price at Japan Customs, frozen bluefin
(HS 030345000 and 030346000), in JPY/kg

Source: Customs

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

Source: Customs

Markets

During the month analysed, about 200 tonnes of frozen bluefin were imported, worth JPY 414 million at Japan Customs. These figures are up 57% in volume and 174% in value on those registered during the previous month. Compared with April 2017, imports rose 34% in volume and 452% in value.

Graph 2: Japanese imports of frozen bluefin
(HS 030345000 and 030346000), 2014–2018

Source: Customs

During the four months of the year, imports reached 351 tonnes worth JPY 577 million, down 37% in volume but up 20% in value on those of the same period in 2017.

Graph 3: Cumulative monthly Japanese imports of
frozen northern bluefin (HS 030345000 and 030346000),
in tonnes, 2014-2018

Source: Japanese Customs

The Korean Republic sent 189 tonnes of frozen bluefin to Japan, worth JPY 311 million, during the period

Graph 4: Main exporters of frozen bluefin to Japan,
January-April 2018, in tonnes

Source: based on Japanese Customs information

By DGA

www.fis.com