A shipment of bluefin tuna farmed in Malta is currently on its way to China, marking the opening of a new market for one of Malta’s top exports.

The tuna was farmed by MFF (Malta Fish Farming) Ltd, and is being transported by Shandong Far-sea Development Ltd, a state-owned Chinese firm, following an agreement signed between Malta and China in November 2023.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Ian Borg at the signing of the agreement with China's Vice Minister Wang Lingjun

The shipment represents a landmark moment for Malta’s fish farming sector, which has grown a reputation for quality that is in high demand, especially in Japan, which is the destination for as much as 95 per cent of all tuna exported from Malta.

Malta Federation of Aquaculture Producers CEO Charlon Gouder took to LinkedIn to mark the “milestone” for the bluefin tuna industry, saying he looks forward to “seeing other companies in Malta establishing similar cooperations and also opening new channels for new products in China.”

MFF Limited was established by Saviour Ellul in 1993 and started farming bluefin tuna in 2000. Mr Ellul remains Chairman of the Board and runs the company together with his eldest son, Giovanni Ellul, as per the company’s website.