Sales of albacore tuna (Thunnus alalunga) decreased last year in both Italy and Spain, finds the latest figures from the European Commission’s European Market Observatory for Fisheries and Aquaculture Products (EUMOFA).
In Italy, first-sales of albacore fell 5 percent in value and 11 percent in volume in the first nine months of 2017, reaching EUR 3.1 million (USD 3.8 million) and 1,040 metric tons (MT). Meanwhile, in Spain, the first-sales value and volume of the tuna amounted to EUR 48 million (USD 58.3 million) and 12,620 MT for the same nine-month period, representing decreases of 14 percent and 24 percent respectively.
Over the past three years, the annual average first-sale price of albacore tuna in Italy was EUR 3.46 (USD 4.20) per kg and approximately 7 percent higher than in Spain (EUR 3.22, USD 3.91 per kg). EUMOFA reports that average prices have increased in both markets.
In Italy, for January-September 2017, the average unit price of albacore was EUR 3.03 (USD 3.68) per kg, up 7 percent on the corresponding period of 2016 and 3 percent higher than in 2015. Prices tend to be higher in January through March, with 2017’s highest off-season prices registered in June (EUR 5.06, USD 6.15 per kg) and March (EUR 4.62, USD 5.61 per kg).
For Spain, the average albacore price for January-September 2017 was EUR 3.79 (USD 4.60) per kg, 13 percent and 11 percent more than in the same nine months of 2016 and 2015 respectively. The prices peaked at EUR 5.55 (USD 6.74) per kg in June.
Greece, Italy and Spain are the main countries involved in the Mediterranean albacore fisheries.
