The global skipjack tuna raw material market is tightening: Ecuador rises to a two-year high, while Thailand's prices remain stable and are on the rise.

According to the latest data from UCN, the CFR (cost and freight) price of mackerel in Bangkok for the 41st week of 2025 (October 6-12) remained in the range of $1,600 to $1,700 per ton, basically unchanged from the previous week, but the focus of transactions has shifted to above $1,650. Several traders at the industry conference in Vigo, Spain, revealed that new transaction quotes were mostly concentrated between $1,650-1,675 per ton, with some high-end orders approaching $1,700 per ton.

Industry insiders pointed out that the current catch in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) fishing grounds remains poor, especially with the delay in the return of the medium-sized purse seine fleet, leading to a limited amount of raw materials arriving in Bangkok. If this trend continues, prices may continue to rise slightly in late October. A major Asian buyer stated: "Current transaction prices are stable between $1,600 and $1,650 per ton, but shipping supply is tight, with no room for reduction, and it is expected to stabilize at $1,700 soon."

On the other hand, the canned tuna trade in the European market performed sluggishly at the Anuga Food Exhibition in Cologne, Germany, this month. Despite the strong wait-and-see sentiment among buyers, Asian raw material prices have shown signs of strength and have gradually been passed on to downstream distributors. The industry generally believes that unless the catch situation improves significantly, global mackerel raw material prices in October will continue to maintain a stable and slightly strong pattern.

In contrast, the Ecuadorian market has seen a more pronounced rise. As the largest tuna landing port in the Eastern Pacific, Manta's ex-vessel price in September reached $1,700 per ton, a two-year high. In early October, some transactions were concluded in the range of $1,725-1,750 per ton, with individual quotes reaching $1,775 to $1,800 per ton. Suppliers operating in both the Atlantic and Indian Ocean regions quoted significantly higher prices, driving the overall market upward.

Driven by supply shortages, Manta's tuna market is becoming a global price benchmark. Industry insiders pointed out that the Ecuadorian fishing grounds are at the end of the fishing ban period, with low tuna catches, while orders from canneries remain strong, and this "low production, high demand" pattern is continuously amplifying price pressure.