The removal of import duties on canned tuna has not led to lower prices or increased competition.

A study conducted by economist Shlomit Arbel of the Arlozorov-Yesodot Forum found that the abolition of the import duty on canned tuna did not lead to the entry of new players into the market in the long term, and reduced the consumer price by a mere 1.1%.

The market remained highly concentrated: the three largest suppliers hold approximately 75% of the market and maintain higher prices than the others.

Small importers were indeed able to enter the market thanks to the abolition of the barriers, but their share is less than 1% each, as they purchase the product on an ad hoc basis rather than systematically, and were unable to significantly impact competition.

The duty was reduced in stages from 2013 to 2024 – first the fixed portion (in shekels per kilogram), then the percentage. During this time, production itself has changed significantly: while 85% of tuna in Israel was previously produced by local factories, the share is now around 20%, with the rest imported.

Some former producers simply moved production abroad (for example, Diplomat closed its factory in Tirat Carmel and switched to production in Vietnam and the Philippines).

The analysis showed that the longer the study period, the weaker the connection between tariff reductions and consumer price reductions. Moreover, the price in Israel also correlates with the price in France, a country not subject to Israeli regulations. This suggests that something other than the tariff and the price of raw materials is influencing the price, something the study was unable to explain.