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 September was JPY 1,327/kg, down 5% on that of August and up 2% on that of the September 2017. During the nine months, the average was JPY 1,391/kg, up 6% on that of the same period last year. In August there had arrived 3,552 tonnes in Japan from Australia, at an average price of JPY 1,327/kg.

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 3, tonnes of frozen bluefin were imported, worth almost JPY 4,815 million, up 1% in volume and down 3% in value on those of September 2017.

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

Source: Customs

During the period, imports reached 8,570 tonnes worth JPY 11,919 million, up 20% in volume and 27% 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

In the first nine months, Australia sent 7,948 tonnes of frozen bluefin to Japan, worth JPY 10,876 million.

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

Source: based on Japanese Customs information

By DGA

www.fis.com