Thai Union Launches State-of-the-Art Marine Oil Refinery in Germany

• Thai Union becomes the only marine oil refiner to own complete supply chain and production
• Tuna oil considered one of the best sources of Omega 3 and DHA critical to human health and infant development

Caption: Thai Union Group commissions Thai Union Marine Nutrients, a state-of-the-art marine oil refinery plant located in Rostock, Germany.

14 NOVEMBER 2018, BANGKOK and ROSTOCK, GERMANY – Thai Union Group PCL., one of the world’s leading seafood producers, has successfully commissioned its USD $24 million Thai Union Marine Nutrients tuna oil refinery. The state-of-the-art refinery, located in Rostock, Germany, produces highly refined tuna oil which is considered one of the best sources of Omega 3 and DHA, ingredients critical to human health and infant development.

With the launch of this new greenfield plant, Thai Union is now the only refiner of high-grade tuna oil with complete end-to-end supply chain and production management. Initial oil extraction is completed at Thai Union’s production facilities in Samut Sakorn, Thailand, before being shipped to Rostock via the port of Hamburg, Germany.

“We are focused on creating a sustainable future for the tuna industry by maximizing and leveraging high-nutrient tuna byproducts. Our pure tuna oil is just our first step in a suite of nutritional innovations from our marine ingredients business,” said Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO at Thai Union.

Thai Union’s marine ingredients arm was setup in 2017 to meet the growing market demand for natural, seafood-derived byproducts beneficial to human nutrition, such as marine Omega-3 fatty acids. Marine ingredients focuses on commercializing high-value innovations identified by Thai Union’s cutting-edge Global Innovation Incubator.

Caption: Thai Union Marine Nutrients, tuna oil considered one of the best sources of Omega 3 and DHA critical to human health and infant development.

At the initial phase, the Thai Union Marine Nutrients plant aims to supply 5,000 metric tons of tuna oil annually, used primarily by manufacturers of nutrient-dense products such as infant formula, dietary supplements, clinical nutrition and functional foods.

“This is the beginning of our sustainable innovation journey – what is left after we extract the oil, we will focus on utilizing all of the nutritional benefits of the tuna, creating highly sustainable and innovative products to benefit human health and nutrition, now and into the future,” added Chansiri.

Sustainable innovation is important to Thai Union and in line with its SeaChange® sustainability strategy. Further, Thai Union is world’s number one rated company in the food products industry in the 2018 Dow Jones Sustainability Index (DJSI), and the company is included in the FTSE4Good Emerging Index by FTSE Russell—meaning Thai Union is on two of the world's most followed sustainability indices.

Caption: Thai Union Group launches Thai Union Marine Nutrients, a state-of-the-art marine oil refinery plant located in Rostock, Germany. Pictured from left to right: Thiraphong Chansiri, Thai Union Group CEO; Dr. Till Backhaus, Minister for Agriculture and the Environment in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern; Leonardus Coolen, Managing Director, Marine Ingredients; Cheng Niruttinanon, Thai Union Executive Chairman; Philipp Schröder, Plant Manager, Thai Union Marine Nutrients GmbH.

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ABOUT THAI UNION GROUP

Thai Union Group PCL. is the world’s seafood leader bringing high quality, healthy, tasty and innovative seafood products to customers across the world for more than 40 years.

Today, Thai Union is regarded as the world’s largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding THB 135 billion (US$ 4.03 billion) and a global workforce of over 49,000 people who are dedicated to pioneering sustainable, innovative seafood products.

The company’s global brand portfolio includes market-leading international brands such as Chicken of the Sea, John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, King Oscar, and Rügen Fisch and Thai-leading brands SEALECT, Fisho, Qfresh, Monori, Bellotta and Marvo. 

As a company committed to innovation and globally responsible behavior, Thai Union is proud to be a member of the United Nations Global Compact, and a founding member of the International Seafood Sustainability Foundation (ISSF). In 2015, Thai Union introduced its SeaChange® sustainability strategy.

Thai Union’s on-going work on sustainability issues was recognized by its inclusion in the Dow Jones Sustainability Index Emerging Markets (DJSI) in 2014. In 2018, Thai Union was rated No. 1 in the Food Products Industry in the DJSI, while also being listed for the fifth straight year. Thai Union is also part of the FTSE4Good Emerging Index and the winner of many awards for its leading work on sustainability.

Media Contacts
Wiriyaporn Posayanonda
External Communications
T: +66.2298.0024 Ext. 4423
M: +66.81.922.5135
E: Wiriyaporn.Posayanonda@thaiunion.com