Europe Canned Tuna Market - Databook 2025 to 2034

The Europe canned tuna market size accounted for USD 13.91 Billion in 2024 and is predicted to touch around USD 18.6 Billion by 2034, growing at a CAGR of 2.94% from 2025 to 2034.

Highlights of the Europe Canned Tuna Market

• By tuna species, the skipjack segment underwent a notable growth in the canned tuna market during 2024.
• By tuna species, the yellowfin segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034.
• By distribution, the hypermarket & supermarket segment held a dominant presence in the market in 2024.
• By distribution, the online segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034.

Industry Valuation and Growth Rate Projection

Canned tuna is an affordable and popular source of protein around the world. Canned or tinned fish are food fish that have been processed, sealed in an airtight container such as a sealed tin can, and subjected to heat. Once the can has been sealed, heat is applied to ensure the meat does not spoil. Health benefits of eating canned tuna include supporting healthy blood sugar levels, preventing anemia, and reducing the risk of dementia.

Europe canned tuna market growth is driven by ethical sourcing and sustainability, food culture globalization, changing diets, expansion of online and retail sales channels, high demand for protein-rich foods, rising health consciousness, and convenience and long shelf life of canned tuna. In the European region, canned tuna is used due to its health benefits, including essential minerals that help for better overall health, vitamin-B12 supports energy metabolism & red blood cells, vitamin D supports bone and immune health, omega-3 fatty acids support heart health, and lean protein helps to support healthy muscles, skin, and bones.

Ultra-high pressure technology is used to apply specific pressure to food and other materials in sealed containers with water or other liquids as media to achieve the purpose of sterilization, modification, processing, and preservation in Europe.

• In February 2025, Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology developed a packaging solution that reduces mercury content in canned tuna by 35 percent.

Growth Factors

Expansion of online channels: Expansion of online and retail channels benefits include 24/7 availability, lower overhead costs, a global reach, flexibility of customers, affordable advertising and marketing, cost reduction, store and product listing creation, time saving, no pressure shopping, online payment, authenticity, variety, better prices, convenience, safety, and a faster buying process. Opens market to customers nationally and internationally.

Restraint

Supply chain issues: Supply chain issues include electronic traceability, unregulated fishing, unreported, and counter-illegal fishing. The shortage of canned tuna is due to overfishing, not just Atlantic tuna but also Pacific bluefin tuna and Southern bluefin tuna. The potential downsides of tuna include mercury content and sustainability.

Opportunity

Advanced technologies in canning and packaging: Researchers use ultra-high hydrostatic pressure technology to process and preserve fresh tuna. Featuring in the processing and packaging for tuna canning are technologies including cutting, drilling, sterilization, filling, and seaming. Canned tuna making equipment includes a tuna vacuum pre-cooker cooler, tuna pre-cooking optimization software, and an automatic tuna can filter.

Segmental Insights

Species Insights

By tuna species, the skipjack segment underwent a notable growth in the canned tuna market during 2024. The skipjack tuna is best because it has a softer texture, stronger flavor, and fishier flavor than other species of tuna, like albacore. It has higher selenium and lower mercury levels than other types of tuna. Skipjack tuna is a high-nutrient, dense food, especially rich in vitamin D, phosphorus, protein, selenium, taurine, B vitamins, and EPA+DHA. The FDA recommends consuming fish lower in mercury. Skipjack earns the best choice label from the FDA, while albacore and yellowfin receive the Good Choice Label.

The yellowfin segment is expected to grow at the fastest rate in the market during the forecast period of 2025 to 2034. Yellowfin tuna contains omega-3 fatty acids that help to reduce cholesterol and enhance heart health. It is a rich potassium source, which helps to lower blood pressure levels. It is high in protein and low in calories.

Distribution Insights

By distribution, the hypermarket & supermarket segment accounted for a considerable share of the market in 2024. Canned fish has been a staple part of Eastern Europe. The cost of living crisis in Europe has forced many consumers to look for cheaper ways to eat. Tuna is popular in countries like Spain and Italy, and is gaining traction in countries such as Germany. Italy has also seen tuna canners look into expanding the product market by feeding byproducts into growing industries such as cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. The incorporation of unique, colorful packaging is also cementing canned tuna as a fish for the middle to higher income segment of the population.
 
By distribution channel, the online segment is set to experience the fastest rate of market growth from 2025 to 2034. The high level of convenience offered by online stores, especially in the years since the pandemic, along with evolving consumer preferences for sustainable and traceable products. Canned tuna has a long shelf life and is available in ready-to-eat packaging, making it a popular product for distribution through online retailers.