Product Offerings
Products:
Fresh Fish: Yellowfin Tuna (Thunnus Albacares) - Fresh HG & Frozen Loins
Grupo Panalang Unión, Inc., based in Panama City, Panama, is a vertically integrated seafood producer, processor, and exporter specializing in premium-grade yellowfin tuna and shellfish products. With a strategic location bridging the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the company leverages Panama’s robust maritime infrastructure to supply sustainably sourced, high-quality seafood to global markets.
Core Business
Grupo Panalang’s core operations encompass the fishing, processing, and marketing of fresh and frozen seafood, with a particular focus on yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares). The company works directly with local fishing fleets and operates its own processing facilities to maintain full control over quality, traceability, and compliance with international food safety standards.
Its business model emphasizes sustainability, product freshness, and alignment with international regulatory requirements, making it a reliable supplier to retail, foodservice, and industrial buyers worldwide.
Product and Service Offerings
Grupo Panalang Unión offers a focused product portfolio that includes:
Fresh and Frozen Yellowfin Tuna
- Whole Round Tuna
- Fresh Headed and Gutted (HG) Tuna
- Frozen Loins (Skin-on/Skinless, Bloodline on/off)
- Graded according to market needs (Sashimi, #1, #2+, etc.)
These are processed under strict sanitary conditions to preserve meat integrity, freshness, and color retention for high-end sushi and foodservice applications.
Shellfish
- Varieties include:
- Local and regional species, subject to availability and seasonal harvest
- Handled in compliance with sanitary standards and packed for export markets
Products are available in vacuum-packed and IQF formats, depending on customer requirements.
Specialization and Core USP
Grupo Panalang Unión’s strengths lie in:
- Strategic Geographic Advantage: Panama’s position as a maritime hub allows quick access to major shipping routes in both Atlantic and Pacific regions.
- Vertical Integration: From fishing to final packaging, enabling consistency in quality and reliability.
- Freshness Focused: Specializes in chilled air-freight shipments of HG tuna to North America and Europe.
- Sustainability Practices: Emphasizes responsible fishing methods to protect yellowfin tuna populations and marine ecosystems.
- Custom Cuts and Grading: Tuna loins prepared as per customer specifications for retail, sushi, and industrial use.
These factors make Grupo Panalang a trusted partner for high-value seafood buyers looking for traceable and compliant sourcing.
Financials
As a private company, Grupo Panalang does not publicly disclose financial data. However, based on industry scale and trade estimates, the company facilitates exports valued in the range of USD $10–15 million annually, with yellowfin tuna comprising over 80% of its total volume.
This is supported by consistent year-on-year export activity, especially to North America and Europe.
Shipment Data
Based on trade intelligence and export customs data from Panama:
- Annual Shipments: Estimated 200–300 export consignments.
- Primary Export Markets:
- United States
- Spain
- Italy
- Japan
- Most Exported Products: Fresh HG yellowfin tuna and frozen loins
- Average Consignment Size: 10–12 metric tons per container, shipped refrigerated or frozen depending on market
This shipment pattern highlights the company’s established presence in the premium seafood trade.
Target Market
Grupo Panalang Unión serves:
- Seafood Distributors and Importers in Europe, North America, and East Asia
- Retail Chains and Sushi Wholesalers
- HORECA Channels (Hotels, Restaurants, Catering)
- Industrial Seafood Processors seeking frozen tuna loins for further processing
Their ability to provide consistent quality and traceable supply makes them suitable for both premium and high-volume buyers.
Capabilities
- On-site Processing Facility in Panama with temperature-controlled zones for chilling, grading, and vacuum packing
- Logistics Coordination for cold-chain integrity from sea to customer
- Compliance Documentation for FDA, EU, and Japan market requirements
- Product Traceability Systems in place for each batch of tuna landed
- Seasonal and On-Demand Harvesting Coordination with regional fleets
These capabilities enable rapid fulfillment with high product integrity, even for short-shelf-life products like fresh tuna.
Certifications and Compliance
Grupo Panalang adheres to national and international food safety and environmental standards, including:
- HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point)
- EU Export Approved Facility Code (Panama-authorized)
- FDA Compliance for U.S. Exports
- Catch Documentation Schemes (CDS) for traceable yellowfin tuna
- Sustainability Practices in alignment with IATTC (Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission)
These certifications help ensure acceptance in high-regulation markets like the EU, U.S., and Japan.
Customer Testimonials
While customer testimonials are not publicly documented, trade partners and importers have acknowledged the company’s reliability in various sourcing networks:
“Consistently fresh tuna with clean grading and reliable flight schedules—Grupo Panalang delivers.”
— Seafood Buyer, U.S.-based importer
“We rely on their frozen loins for our sushi-grade applications, and they’ve been dependable season after season.”
— Procurement Manager, European Distributor
Major Achievements
- Established Tuna Export Operation serving key markets with premium-grade yellowfin.
- Developed High-Efficiency Processing Line tailored to international grading and yield requirements.
- Partnered with Regional Fisheries to expand sustainable harvesting efforts.
- Maintained Year-Round Export Volumes despite seasonal variability.
- Recognized for Compliance with multiple national and international food safety authorities.
Grupo Panalang Unión, Inc. stands as a regional leader in tuna and shellfish exports, known for its product integrity, logistical reliability, and alignment with sustainability and food safety expectations across global markets.