StarKist Samoa to add pet food production line

The report by the American Samoa Economic Development Authority at the annual investor meeting last month said the tuna industry – anchored by the StarKist cannery – remains the bedrock of the private- sector economy and the territory’s primary export driver. In 2023, the island produced roughly one- quarter of all shelf-stable canned tuna consumed in the United States.

One competitive issue local leaders highlighted is the discrepancy in U.S. import tariffs for tuna products. Major mainland brands often import pre-processed tuna loins from Asia, incurring a low duty of roughly $0.10 per kilogram (around 3% ad valorem). In contrast, canned tuna imports face tariffs as high as 12.5% (in water) to 35% (in oil). Because StarKist’s Pago Pago cannery primarily uses whole fish and produces finished canned tuna, it does not benefit from the low-duty loin imports. Officials argue this gives foreign processors an unfair cost advantage in the U.S. market. American Samoa’s representatives have initiated discussions with the U.S. International Trade Commission to raise these concerns and seek remedies that would better protect the territory’s tuna industry.

On the business front, StarKist is diversifying its local operations. The company’s CEO, Edward Min, confirmed plans to add a pet food production line at the American Samoa plant. This expansion into pet food is expected to increase production volumes and potentially create additional jobs, bolstering the island’s employment and export figures. StarKist reports current tuna processing volumes averaging about 420 metric tons per day, and the added product line should boost output further.

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