Tetra Pak expands Philippines tuna packaging offering to support seafood exports

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Highlights

Tetra Pak is expanding its packaging portfolio in the Philippines to include recyclable, low-carbon solutions for shelf-stable tuna, targeting export market compliance.
Tetra Recart packaging offers 21,000 tonnes lower CO2 emissions per one million cans and over 80% less carbon footprint than steel cans or glass jars.
Philippine tuna exports to EU reached USD 119.07 million in H1, while projected tuna catch is 230,347 metric tons in 2025, up from 201,034 in 2024.

Tuna packaging push targets export readiness

Tetra Pak said on Friday it is expanding its portfolio in the Philippines with new packaging solutions for shelf-stable tuna, BusinessWorld Online reports, as the company positions its offering around export competitiveness and sustainability requirements.

Larry Tobias, business development director for Tetra Pak Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, and Indonesia, said the company wants to help the industry become more competitive, innovative, and compliant with global export market requirements. He said demand is gradually growing abroad for packaging with higher recyclable content and lower environmental impact, particularly as European markets tighten food safety and packaging policies.

Tetra Recart, the company's packaging solution for tuna products, is aimed at formats including spreads, flakes, shredded, and chunks. The retortable carton is made of 71% paperboard, 24% plastic, and 5% aluminum foil, and Tetra Pak said the pack emits 21,000 tonnes less carbon dioxide than one million cans while producing more than 80% less carbon footprint than steel cans and glass jars.

The company also said it plans to explore opportunities in other food segments after its expansion in the tuna industry. Tobias said Tetra Pak is open to discussions with other food companies that may want to adopt similar packaging solutions.

Export demand and catch data support sector outlook

The Philippines remains a major tuna producer in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean, with canned tuna accounting for the bulk of exports. In the first semester of the year, tuna exports to European Union member countries reached USD 119.07 million, according to the local statistics agency.

Tobias said the export market remains attractive, dynamic, and strong, but producers also face pressure on cost competitiveness and product variety. He said that shift creates an opening for Philippine companies to look beyond traditional cans as more countries adopt green initiatives.

Data from the Department of Agriculture, National Fisheries Research and Development Institute estimate the country's tuna catch in 2025 at 230,347 metric tons, up from 201,034 metric tons in 2024. Skipjack tuna accounts for 58% of last year's catch, followed by yellowfin at about 39%, while bigeye tuna and albacore account for 3% and 1%, respectively.

In our earlier article on the Philippines expanding access to Malaysia’s halal import market, we covered how PhilUlama’s recognition by Malaysia’s JAKIM widened the pool of Philippine-based certifiers eligible to approve products for the Malaysian market. We noted that this added certification capacity can make it easier for exporters to meet target-market requirements and supports the country’s broader push to grow halal-linked trade and investment beyond purely religious compliance.

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