A USD 24 million (EUR 21.3 million) tuna oil refinery has been constructed in Rostock, Germany, by the Thai Union Group.
Initially, the Thai Union Marine Nutrients plant aims to supply 5,000 metric tons (MT) of tuna oil annually. This ingredient will primarily be used by manufacturers of nutrient-dense products such as infant formula, dietary supplements, clinical nutrition, and functional foods.
Initial oil extraction is completed at Thai Union’s production facilities in Samut Sakorn, Thailand, before being shipped to Rostock via the port of Hamburg, Germany.
“We are focused on creating a sustainable future for the tuna industry by maximizing and leveraging high-nutrient tuna by-products. Our pure tuna oil is just our first step in a suite of nutritional innovations from our marine ingredients business,” Thai Union CEO Thiraphong Chansiri said.
He added that the oil extraction is just part of the company’s “sustainable innovation journey,” the plan is to utilize all of the nutritional benefits of the tuna.
Thai Union’s marine ingredients arm was set up in 2017 to meet the growing market demand for natural, seafood-derived by-products beneficial to human nutrition, such as marine omega-3 fatty acids. It focuses on commercializing high-value innovations identified by the company’s Global Innovation Incubator.
