Southern bluefin tuna prices are averaging higher than they were last year, and in some cases are being sold for higher prices than product from Japan.
At Tokyo’s Toyosu Wholesale Market on 30 May, bigeye tuna from southern sources sold higher than that from Japan. Average prices were in the range of JPY 2,050 to JPY 2,770 (USD 18.72 to USD 25.29, EUR 16.51 to EUR 22.70) for frozen bigeye from New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa.
Catch from Japan was in the range of JPY 1,300 to JPY 2,000 (USD 11.87 to 18.26, EUR 10.65 to EUR 16.39) with an average of JPY 1,567 (USD 14.31, EUR 12.84). This is compared with an average price on 14 May for frozen bigeye of JPY 1,102 (USD 10.07, EUR 9.04) as compared with JPY 1,086 (USD 9.75, EUR 8.58) for frozen on 26 April, thus showing a rising trend.
Frozen southern bluefin tuna on 30 May averaged JPY 3,066 (USD 27.99, EUR 25.13) for New Zealand product and JPY 4,500 (USD 41.08, EUR 36.88) from South Africa. This compares with a 14 May average of JPY 1,918 (USD 17.54, EUR 15.73) and a 26 April price for frozen of JPY 1,823 (USD 16.37, EUR 14.40).
Bluefin from New Zealand sold at an average price of JPY 4,333 (USD 39.56, EUR 35.52), while farmed product from Mexico averaged JPY 2,235 (USD 20.40, EUR 18.32). Frozen bluefin imports averaged JPY 3,405 (USD 31.14, EUR 27.95) on 14 May, up from JPY 3,240 (USD 29.10, EUR 25.94) on 26 April, but below the mid-February average of JPY 3,586 (USD 32.21, EUR 28.33).
On 14 May, fresh bluefin tuna from Miyagi Prefecture sold at an average price of JPY 2,276 (USD 20.82, EUR 18.69) per kilogram, while that from other domestic sources sold in a wide range between JPY 1,404 and JPY 4,536 (USD 12.84 to USD 41.48, EUR 11.53 to EUR 37.24).
Frozen yellowfin tuna on 30 May sold at an average of JPY 1,300 (USD 11.87, EUR 10.66) for Japanese product, as compared with a 14 May average of JPY 1,080 (USD 9.87, EUR 8.86), and a 26 April average price of JPY 832 (USD 7.47, EUR 6.66) per kilogram – also a rising trend.
