Market
Costa Rica has an established canned tuna processing and export industry, with major seafood processing activity linked to Puntarenas Province (including El Roble). UN Comtrade data (via WITS) shows Costa Rica exported HS 160414 (prepared/preserved tuna, skipjack and bonito) in 2023, with leading destinations including the United States and nearby Central American markets, while also importing the same HS category for domestic supply. For a product specifically labelled as tongol/longtail tuna, sourcing should be verified because longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) is associated with Indo-Pacific coastal waters rather than the Eastern Pacific tuna fisheries that typically supply Costa Rica’s regional canning hubs. Market access and continuity are highly sensitive to fisheries legality documentation (IUU catch certification for EU-bound trade) and to food-safety controls (notably histamine and container integrity) expected by major import markets.
Market RoleMajor processor and regional exporter; also an importing market for prepared/preserved canned tuna
Domestic RoleDomestic consumer market supplied by local processing and imports of prepared/preserved tuna
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
SeasonalityCanned tuna output is shelf-stable, but raw tuna availability and processing schedules can be affected by Eastern Pacific tuna conservation measures (including purse-seine temporal closures) and by variability in landings from the supplying fleets.
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighEU market access for fishery products can be blocked if IUU documentation is missing, invalid, or inconsistent (catch certificate/processing statement), especially with the EU’s CATCH digital workflow becoming compulsory for imports as of January 10, 2026; non-compliance can trigger detention, rejection, or loss of buyer approval.Implement document-control SOPs that reconcile vessel/flag-State validations, processing yields, and shipment identifiers; run pre-shipment compliance checks in TRACES NT CATCH and keep auditable chain-of-custody records.
Food Safety HighTuna is a histamine-forming species group; inadequate time-temperature control upstream or insufficient controls in processing can lead to elevated histamine or decomposition indicators, while container integrity defects can compromise shelf stability and lead to border actions or recalls.Apply HACCP controls for scombrotoxin/histamine hazards (receiving and processing controls), validate thermal processes, and enforce seam integrity inspection and finished-product verification aligned with Codex and major-import-market guidance.
Supply Availability MediumEastern Pacific tuna conservation measures (including purse-seine temporal closures) can tighten raw-material availability, shift procurement patterns, and create price/lead-time volatility for canneries linked to that supply basin.Plan inventory buffers around known closure windows, diversify approved raw-material sources, and contract staggered deliveries to reduce exposure to short-term landing variability.
Logistics MediumCanned tuna is freight-intensive; container-rate spikes, port congestion, or schedule disruptions at key gateways can materially affect landed cost, service levels, and export program profitability.Use multi-carrier contracting, maintain safety stock for key SKUs, and build routing contingencies (alternative sailings/ports) into customer OTIF commitments.
Labor And Social Compliance MediumBuyer and regulator scrutiny on forced labour in fisheries can create reputational and commercial risk if upstream vessel labor conditions are opaque or if supplier fleets lack credible social compliance evidence.Require vessel lists, flag-State documentation, and social compliance attestations; prioritize suppliers participating in credible fisheries improvement/monitoring programs and implement grievance/reporting mechanisms in supplier codes.
Sustainability- Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing exposure in tuna supply chains (documentation and vessel oversight expectations are stringent in EU/major markets)
- Tuna stock conservation and bycatch management expectations (e.g., purse-seine effort controls/closures in the Eastern Pacific Ocean management area)
- Packaging and waste footprint considerations for high-volume canned products (can recycling, carton waste)
Labor & Social- Forced labour and human trafficking risks are documented in parts of the global commercial fishing sector (especially on fishing vessels), raising due diligence expectations for vessel-level labor conditions in tuna supply chains.
- Migrant-worker vulnerability and recruitment-practice scrutiny can extend to upstream fishing operations supplying canneries and to third-party fleets supplying raw material.
Standards- HACCP (Seafood) — commonly expected for export programs and regulatory compliance alignment
- GMP (Good Manufacturing Practices) — commonly expected by buyers and auditors
- BRCGS Food Safety (buyer-driven, varies by program)
- IFS Food (buyer-driven, varies by program)
FAQ
What are the key compliance items to sell imported canned tuna in Costa Rica?Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health states that processed foods must have a sanitary registration prior to commercialization, and that the import procedure is carried out through PROCOMER’s Ventanilla Única with the supporting documents required for the product type.
What is the single biggest trade-stopper risk for Costa Rica-origin canned tuna entering the EU?EU IUU requirements can stop a shipment if the catch certificate/related IUU documents are missing or inconsistent; the EU also moved to make use of the CATCH digital system compulsory for imports as of January 10, 2026, increasing the importance of correct digital documentation.
Is 'tongol/longtail tuna' a typical local raw material for Costa Rica’s canned tuna industry?FAO fisheries literature describes longtail tuna (Thunnus tonggol) as an Indo-Pacific coastal tuna (Western Pacific to Northwestern Indian Ocean), so a product specifically labelled as tongol should have its species identity and sourcing verified; Costa Rica’s canned tuna trade statistics commonly reported at HS level are not species-specific.