Ecuador Triumphs in Asia with Its Canned Tuna

On February 14, 2025, Ecuador marked a historic milestone in its fishing industry with the official launch of its first canned tuna export to China. This achievement, resulting from the trade agreement signed between the two countries in May 2024, allowed Ecuadorian products to enter the Chinese market with an immediate tariff reduction from 5% to 0%, opening a new and promising market for the national tuna sector. Although the first shipment had arrived days earlier, it was at a special event near Beijing where local authorities and Ecuadorian representatives celebrated this important step toward diversifying the country’s export offerings.

The canned fish industry, which generates over $1.5 billion in annual exports and thousands of direct and indirect jobs, received a significant boost from this opening. Between January and November 2024, Ecuador recorded a 25% increase in export revenues and a 29% growth in export volume in this sector, consolidating the European Union as its main destination. However, the entry into the Chinese market represents a great opportunity to diversify and expand the country’s export portfolio, strengthening competitiveness and creating new income sources for small and medium-sized enterprises.

This trade agreement not only strengthened the presence of Ecuadorian tuna abroad but also protected the local industry by maintaining tariff restrictions on Chinese tuna entering Ecuador. The arrival into the Asian market symbolized a strategic step for the national tuna industry, consolidating it as a strong international player and opening new growth opportunities in an increasingly competitive global market.