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3MMI EUROPE | EP 16 | AIRED 09/22/2025
Europe Tuna Market Shift: How EU Buyers Are Moving Beyond Fresh
September 22, 2025 - Europe’s tuna trade is transforming as changing consumer demand, supply diversification and new procurement strategies reshape the market. Although overall import volumes increased, the market is clearly moving away from fresh tuna toward frozen and processed formats that offer buyers greater consistency, stability, and efficiency.
In contrast, imports of frozen fillets, largely yellowfin tuna and bigeye tuna, surged nearly 27 percent, while whole frozen tuna, dominated by skipjack tuna used for canning, rose 9 percent. This shift underscores a broader trend, with European buyers favoring frozen formats for their consistency, shelf life, and versatility across retail and foodservice.
The most significant growth has come from processed tuna. In the first quarter alone, the EU imported 225,558 tonnes of processed tuna, a rise of 27.8 percent compared to the same period in 2024. Nearly 37 percent of this volume (83,809 tonnes) consisted of cooked frozen loins, primarily skipjack tuna and yellowfin tuna which remain essential raw materials for European canners in Spain, Italy, Portugal, and France.
Within Europe, import patterns are reshaping. Spain has emerged as the clear leader, expanding its canned tuna imports to 69,960 tonnes in Q1 2025, almost double the previous year’s volume. This dramatic increase reinforces Spain’s position as a hub for processing and redistribution across the continent. Other key markets also posted significant growth. Italy increased imports by 30 percent to 42,190 tonnes, while Germany, France, and the United Kingdom each posted double-digit gains.
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The expansion of these major markets signals broad-based strength in European tuna demand, particularly for processed and value-added formats. EU tuna demand is expected to remain steady through late 2025, with trade dominated by frozen fillets and cooked loins as fresh imports stay weak.
We recommend EU buyers diversify sourcing and focus procurement on frozen fillets and cooked loins. Stable prices present a window of opportunity, but buyers should prepare for Q3 adjustments and keep an eye on global trade dynamics that could reshape supply availability.
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