Changes in the Spanish fish-canning industry since Spain's entry to the European Union

Abstract

In the early 1980s, just before the entry of Spain in the European Union, the Spanish fish canning industry was already important, although it was still well behind the leading countries. Canning companies were small, exports were low and directed to economically vulnerable countries, the product was highly varied and the economies of scale in the industry were small. Forty years later, the Spanish canning industry is a more concentrated industry, with several large companies that have plants in other countries, and which exports a significant part of its production. It is the leader in the European Union and the second largest producer in the world. The existence of a tradition and important capabilities acquired over time, especially in the Galician region, the consolidation of its own tuna fleet and the entry of Spain into the European Union have been factors that made this change possible