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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
6.6 EU-based Processors
The European lobby organisation for both tuna fishing and processing interests – EUROTHON –
states that its members directly employ over 25,000 people in the EU and subsequent indirect EU
employment totals around 54,000. 289 No independent assessment of these estimates is available. In
terms of Spain-specific estimates, ANFACO states that its membership includes 175 processors of a
wide range of seafood, based mainly in Galicia, and total direct employment is 15,375 people. 290 Of
these it is not known precisely how many work in the tuna processing industry (see Appendix 4).
Table 6.8 details independent estimates by US industry experts of EU-based tuna processing
capacity. Unsurprisingly, Spain is the major player with 54% of daily processing capacity in the EU.
Table 6.8 Estimated EU-based Tuna Processors, Capacity and Production in 2008
Tuna Processing
factories
Capacity
(mt/day)
Annual Production
(mt)
Spain 25 1,000 220,000
Italy 6 450 108,000
France 2 200 36,000
Portugal 2 200 18,000
EU27 TOTAL 35 1,850 382,000
Source: McGowan and McClain 2010.
A more detailed overview of the major EU-based and formerly EU-based firms and their processing
interests is presented in Table 6.9. This is not an exhaustive list of current firms engaged in the EU
market for canned tuna, but it does detail the most important players, as well as provide the full
range of types of companies engaged in the market. Three main types are categorised here (albeit
with variants between them): highly diversified firms focussed on the marketing of a wide range of
consumer goods (Bolton and Princes), specialised branded-processors of canned fish and especially
tuna (Calvo, Garavilla, Jealsa and MW Brands), and non-branded contract processors who supply
product to branded-firms and to supermarket private labels (Frinsa, Thunnus Overseas Group). Most
branded-processors also pack private label product, but this widely varies in proportion of total
production (i.e. Calvo produces none, and the majority of Jealsa’s production is for other labels).
All of the top five Spanish firms have at least two domestic processing facilities in Spain (see Table
6.9). In general terms, the basic business model for each is to have one plant specialised in the
production of canned tuna, and the other in various seafood products; although some firms have
shifted production of the latter overseas in recent years (e.g. Jealsa and Garavilla). It is important to
note that, while the ANFACO industry association attempts to represent the external relations of
Spanish processors as being unified, they have diverse interests reflecting their different commercial
positions in the value chain.
For Bolton and Princes, vertical integration into canned tuna production is not a key component of
their (highly diversified) businesses. The commercial emphasis of these companies is on the
marketing of a wide range of consumer brands based on a highly diversified supply base sourcing
from across the planet. In other words, unlike Thai Union for example, each could probably function
289 EUROTHON 2011b.
290 Data provided to consultants by ANFACO on request, 19 October 2011.
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