June 27, 2005

Brazil seeks new foreign markets for its shrimp

The Brazilian Association of Shrimp Farmers (ABCC) is cooperating with the Brazilian Export Promotion Agency (Apex) to promote the country's shrimp in foreign markets.

Some new foreign markets the ABCC is eyeing include Denmark, Holland and Germany.

Apex is investing about US$850,000 to promote Brazilian shrimp through international fairs while the ABCC would invest another US$850,000 in shrimp product qualification and certification.

Brazil's shrimp production currently ranks eighth in the world, with France, Spain, the United States, Holland, Japan and Portugal as the main importers.

Brazilian shrimp breeding has been growing at an average rate of 50 percent annually except when shrimp production fell 15.84 percent from 90,190 tonnes in 2003 to 75,900 tonnes in 2004.

Despite recent falling productivity and export value, the number of shrimp farms has increased along with larger cultivated areas.