Brazil Sets Quarterly Record in Aquaculture Exports

Brazilian aquaculture continues to break export records. After doubling its overseas shipments in 2024 compared to 2023, the sector recorded its highest-ever quarterly export value from January to March 2025.

Export revenues totaled US$ 18.5 million in farmed fish products — a 112% increase over the same period in 2024. Export volumes also rose sharply, reaching 3,938 tonnes, an 89% year-on-year growth.

See below a historical overview of Brazilian fish exports starting from 2022. The chart was prepared using DataLiner data:

Brazilian Fish Exports | Jan 2022 – Apr 2025 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

Tilapia remains the undisputed leader in exports. In the first quarter of 2025, the species generated US$ 17 million, accounting for 92% of the sector’s total export value. This represents a 105% increase compared to the same period in 2024.

In terms of volume, Brazil exported over 3,455 tonnes of tilapia — the equivalent of 72,000 fully loaded shopping carts, assuming an average of 50 kg per cart.

Among native species, curimatã stood out with US$ 580,000 in exports, representing a 333% increase, followed by tambaqui, which exported US$ 479,000 in the quarter. The data comes from Comex Stat, a platform of Brazil’s Ministry of Development, Industry, Trade and Services (MDIC).

The United States remained the top importer of Brazilian farmed fish in Q1 2025, purchasing US$ 16.3 million, or 88% of the total. Peru was the second-largest destination (7%), primarily importing native fish species. Canada (2%), China (1%), and Japan (1%) followed.

During the quarter, Brazil surpassed Indonesia and Colombia to become the third-largest exporter of tilapia to the United States.

Although Paraná remained Brazil’s leading tilapia-exporting state, with US$8.3 million in the quarter, its share dropped from 80% in Q1 2024 to 49% this year. Meanwhile, São Paulo tripled its share, rising from 12% in 2024 to 36% this quarter.

In an official statement, Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister André de Paula said the results reflect the federal government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the sector and open new international markets.

“At the same time, we are advancing on structural fronts, such as streamlining environmental licensing for aquaculture. We are securing new concessions for the use of Union waters and providing legal certainty so that producers can grow sustainably and responsibly,” he noted.

Source: Globo Rural

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