Cannery reports tuna export

 By GYNNIE KERO
SOUTH Seas Tuna Cannery (SSTC) in Wewak exported 95% of the total 22,545 tonnes of frozen precooked loins to European customers last year, managing director and President Mike McCulley said.
The remaining 5% was shipped to Southeast Asian markets.
McCulley said yesterday: “All of this tonnage was white meat; no red meat exports took place during 2013.”
SSTC has just begun operations for this year after it was forced to remain closed for three months from December for floor replacement in its main cold storage.  
“Because of this late start, our total tonnes processed in 2014 will be lower than normal.
“Last year, we processed an averaged of 100 tonnes of raw material per day. 
“We have invested in some new equipment for 2014 and will now be able to increase our daily processing to 115-120 tonnes per day. 
“On a full-year basis, we expect to process more than 27,000mt tonnes once all of the new equipment are operating.
“Overall, we have spent nearly K4 million in improvement and additional capacity during the three-month shutdown. 
 “We are excited to be operating again and look forward to the additional capacity.
 “Demand for our product remains strong,” McCulley said.
The South Seas Tuna loining plant in Wewak is a Taiwanese-owned business that skins and debones tuna for overseas canneries.