GenSan’s Alliance Tuna opening new P60million processing plant

Alliance Tuna International, Incorporated, one of the Philippines’ largest canned tuna exporters which is located in General Santos City is set to open a new processing plant in its Barangay Tambler HQ costing around P60million!

This publicly-listed company which processed a total of 30 thousand tons of tuna in 2006 exports their products to over 40 countries.  Their current facilities churn out a daily output of 120 metric tons.  While based in GenSan, Alliance Tuna  has marketing offices in Manila and Thailand and thus has been able to widen its reach internationally.

According to its President and CEO, Mr. Jonathan Dee, the new plant which opens by the second half of 2009, will be processing salmon instead of tuna. This is the product of a joint venture with New Zealand’s Prime Foods Limited, a company much into processing, canning and exporting smoked salmon and other seafoods. It is New Zealand’s third largest supplier of smoked seafood, enjoying about 35% of the market there.

The new plant has a capacity of producing two tons of packed salmon a day. These will be exported to Australia, Asia and Europe.

For the 1st quarter of 2009, Alliance Tuna earned a net income of $19million, which is 34% more than last year.  Thus, with its new project in General Santos City, not only are their profits expected to soar even higher but will also mean more direct and indirect employment for the “generals”.