Tetra Pak said on Friday it is expanding its portfolio in the Philippines by offering new packaging solutions for shelf-stable tuna to help boost the country’s global seafood exports.
“The industry is already solid… Tetra Pak is here to support them to make them future-ready for this kind of business,” Tetra Pak Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia (MSPI) Business Development Director Larry Tobias told reporters in a panel interview.
“We can help the industry to be more competitive, be more innovative, and be more compliant with the global export market,” he added.
The Philippines is a major tuna producer in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, with canned tuna making up the bulk of its exports.
Tuna exports to European Union (EU) member countries in the first semester of the year accounted for 2.2% of total EU exports, with export revenues reaching USD 119.07 million, according to the local statistics agency.
While the country remains one of the world’s top tuna exporters, Mr. Tobias noted that demand for sustainable packaging is gradually growing abroad.
“While the export market is very attractive, very dynamic, very strong, there are also basic challenges,” he said. “There is an increasing demand, especially in these receiving markets, for cost competitiveness and newer offers for varieties.”
He added that European countries, among others, are ramping up food safety and packaging policies. “They’re looking for more sustainable packages. Those with higher recyclable content or those that have a lesser impact on the environment.”
As more countries push green initiatives, the Tetra Pak official noted that this is an opportunity for local producers to explore packaging beyond traditional cans and tap further into international markets.
Tetra Recart is a new packaging solution targeted for tuna products, including spreads, flakes, shredded, and chunks. It is a retortable carton made of 71% paperboard, 24% plastic, and 5% aluminum foil.
The pack emits 21,000 tonnes less carbon dioxide than one million cans and produces over 80% less carbon footprint than steel cans and glass jars.
The company plans to venture into other food sectors, following its expansion in the tuna industry.
“Of course, if there’s any other food industry or food company… We are very much open to discussing… and we will be more than happy to bring them on board,” Mr. Tobias said.
Data from the Department of Agriculture – National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (DA-NFRDI) estimated the country’s tuna catch in 2025 at 230,347 metric tons (MT), up from 201,034 MT in 2024.
Skipjack tuna remained the most dominant species in last year’s catch, accounting for 58%. Yellowfin tuna trailed with about 39%, followed by bigeye tuna and albacore tuna with 3% and 1%, respectively. — Almira Louise S. Martinez
