Brazil fish farming shifts export strategy as tilapia sector looks beyond U.S. market

Against a more challenging international backdrop, the fish farming industry in Brazil is beginning to redraw its export strategy. Highly dependent on the United States, which accounts for about 92% of the country’s tilapia exports, the sector is now seeking to diversify markets and reduce risk, with growing focus on Latin America.

The shift comes amid new trade barriers and rising global competition. Even so, industry specialists see the current moment as one of opportunity. According to sector leaders, Brazil’s tilapia industry is entering a promising phase, marked by expansion and the need to adapt.

Despite the strong concentration in the U.S. market, recent figures point to resilience. Brazilian tilapia exports grew by about 2% last year, even after tariffs were introduced from August. The performance underscores the competitiveness of Brazilian product, while also highlighting the risks of relying too heavily on a single destination.

According to container movement data compiled by Datamar’s market intelligence team, Brazil exported 8 TEUs of tilapia in January 2026—comprising whole fish as well as frozen, fresh, or chilled fillets—while imports reached 112 TEUs.

The following provides a full breakdown of Brazilian tilapia import volumes (including whole fish and various cuts) since January 2023:”

Tilapia Imports | Jan 2023 – Jan 2026 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

In that context, Latin American countries are taking on greater strategic importance. Mexico has emerged as one of the main targets. The country imports about 92,000 tonnes of tilapia per year, more than half the volume purchased by the United States. Even so, Brazil’s share of that market remains limited, pointing to room for expansion.

Other countries in the region, such as Colombia and Peru, are also seen as relevant opportunities. In addition to sizeable demand, geographic proximity could give Brazil a logistics advantage, especially against Asian competitors.

Industrial bottleneck limits expansion

Although national production is seen as robust, the main bottleneck in expanding Brazil’s international presence lies in the profile of the product it exports. At present, Brazil sells mostly fresh fillets, a higher value-added item, but one produced on a smaller scale.

In the global market, the picture is different. Consumption is dominated by frozen products, which are more affordable and supplied in large volumes by countries such as China and Vietnam. That gap has limited Brazil’s competitiveness in larger-scale markets.

The sector expects that regulatory adjustments and greater industrial efficiency will allow production of frozen fillets to expand, helping reposition the country in international trade. Specialists say changes on that front could generate faster results than gains in production, which require more time and investment.

In addition, trade barriers remain on the radar. The European market has been closed to Brazilian fish products since 2017, and reopening it depends on diplomatic negotiations and sanitary adjustments, factors that go beyond producers’ direct control.

Coordination and market intelligence gain importance

In a more competitive environment, coordination among industry players, associations and research centers is becoming increasingly important. Information sharing and trend identification have been key in guiding companies as they seek new markets.

The strategy includes not only international expansion, but also strengthening the domestic market. In that regard, native species such as tambaqui are emerging as promising alternatives for production diversification.

The outlook for the coming years is one of transformation. Market expansion, both inside and outside Brazil, is expected to define the next phase of the country’s tilapia industry, with greater international reach and rising pressure for competitiveness.

Source: Peixe BR, adapted by Feed & Food.

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