Albacore (THUNNUS ALALUNGA)

Biology and Habitat

Species description
Albacore is a pale-fleshed species of the tuna family. Albacore tuna can grow to 30 kg in weight and 1,40 m in length.

Geographical distribution and habitat
Albacore tuna can be found in the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea.

Resource, exploitation and management

Stock and resource status/conservation measures
TACs are adopted by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) for Albacore caught in the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea and by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) for Albacore caught in the Indian Ocean.

Production methods and fishing gears
There are several methods used for harvesting albacore tuna: pelagic trawls, hooks and line, and purse seines.

Source: Information system on commercial designations

Catches

Evolution of world catches

• Global production of albacore tuna amounted to 201.287 tonnes in 2023. The leading producers were Taiwan, Japan, and China which provided respectively 27%, 17% and 14%, followed by the EU-27 (13%).
• Over the last decade (2014-2023), world catch of albacore tuna has followed a downward trend (-17%).

Source: FAO

Evolution of EU catches

• The EU production of albacore tuna amounted to 25.458 tonnes in 2023, providing 13% of the global production. Spain (69% of the EU production) and to lesser extent Ireland (12%) and France (11%) were the major EU producers. Another important EU producer was Italy.
• Over the 2014-2023 period, EU production has decreased by 12%, with strong fluctuations due to variable TAC and quotas. In recent years, ICCAT has adopted recommendations that increase fishing opportunities: this led to a greater availability of quotas for the EU fishing fleet, although catches have been stable.

Source: FAO

Processing

• The main share of albacore tuna landed in the EU is used for canning, especially in Spain and to lesser extent in France, although the demand of the fresh market is high. This is related to unsatisfying landed tuna quality, as a result of the significant share of catches by trawlers (and less from pole and line and nets).
• In EU processing data, it is not possible to distinguish the albacore tuna from the total canned tuna statistics. In Spain, statistics related to the canning industry are provided by main product. Albacore tuna is a premium canned product product and amounted to 12.124 tonnes for a value of EUR 142,3 million in 2024 (+1,5% in volume and +1,9% in value in comparison to 2023), representing 4% of canned seafood volume and 8% of canned seafood value (Source: Spanish association of canned fish: Asociación Nacional de Fabricantes de Conservas de Pescados, ANFACO).

Trade

Combined nomenclature

• Extra-EU exports:
  EU exports of Albacore tuna are marginal.
• Extra-EU imports reached over 6.500 tonnes in 2024, mostly frozen (98% of EU imports). Spain is by far the main importer in the EU (84% of the EU imports) and to lesser extent France (8%) and Portugal (7%). The main suppliers are South Africa (40%; 2.650 tonnes) and China (28%; 1.873 tonnes).

Source: EUROSTAT-COMEXT

Supply balance

EU supply balance (2023) – Tonnes of live weight equivalent:

Source: EUROSTAT/COMEXT

Supply balance is provided for the year 2023 (trade data for 2023 were taken into account). Detailed trade data provided in the slide 4 concern the year 2024.
The conversion factors were used to convert net weight of imports and exports of fishery and aquaculture products into live weight equivalents.

Prices along the supply chain (EUR/kg)

First-sale (fresh whole)
First-sale prices are provided for Spain, France, and Ireland, the main EU producers of albacore. Over the 2016-2025 period, average yearly prices were higher in France and in Spain. Spanish prices could possibly be explained by higher prices achieved by pole-and-line Spanish landings.

(*) From January to September 2025

Retail/consumption
Retail prices refer to fresh and canned tuna in France and Spain (not specific to albacore tuna).

(*) latest available year

Extra-EU import (frozen whole)
Extra-EU import prices are provided for frozen whole products in Spain, France and Portugal major importers of albacore tuna in the EU.

(*) From January to September 2025

Marketing

National lists of commercial designations

Information system on commercial designations and scientific names in all EU languages

Applicable marketing standards

Consumption

Tuna, all species combined, is the most consumed fish in EU (source: The EU Fish Market – 2025 edition, EUMOFA)

Apparent consumption of tuna (all species included) per capita in 2023: 2,68 kg live weight equivalent, mostly canned (source: Supply balance - 2023, EUMOFA)

Apparent consumption of Albacore tuna per capita in 2023: 0,07 kg kg live weight equivalent, mostly canned (source: Supply balance – 2023, EUMOFA)

Nutritional value (Albacore, Atlantic/Pacific, fresh fillet, values per 100 g – source : NUTRAQUA/AQUIMER)