Tilapia Exports Advance on Reduced Bureaucracy

According to Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA), Viracopos International Airport in Campinas (SP) has successfully shipped fish to the United States for the first time without requiring an International Sanitary Certification (CSI). This marks a significant step forward for Brazilian exports, aligning with regulatory changes agreed upon by Brazil and the U.S. in October.

In this pilot operation, 34 tonnes of fresh tilapia fillets were shipped to evaluate the operational and logistical advantages of the new process. Early results are encouraging: the total transportation time from slaughter to U.S. retail shelves was reduced from 48 hours to just 36, enhancing freshness and competitiveness.

MAPA credits this process improvement to collaboration among exporters, importers, freight agents, airlines, and the International Agricultural Surveillance System (Vigiagro). According to Rita Lourenço, head of Vigiagro at Viracopos, the simplification has dramatically reduced airport procedures—from up to two hours to less than five minutes.

In addition to faster processing, the new model also lowers operational costs, which is expected to boost sales of Brazilian fish in the U.S. market. “American consumers will now enjoy a fresher product with a longer shelf life at competitive prices,” Rita highlighted.

Brazil is currently the second-largest fish exporter to the U.S., with tilapia fillets leading the way. This streamlined process is expected to further strengthen the presence of Brazilian seafood in the American market.

The rising figures of tilapia and other fish meat exports from Brazil aren’t exclusive to air freight. In fact, DataLiner data show that Brazilian maritime exports of fish meat have also climbed in the first ten months of the year since 2021. See more details below.

Fish Meat Exports | Jan-Oct 2021 vs Jan-Oct 2024 | TEUs

Source: DataLiner (click here to request a demo)

MAPA also revealed that Vigiagro is developing a digital solution to enable the automatic clearance of shipments. This innovation aims to further enhance logistical efficiency to the benefit of the entire production chain.

Source: Agrolink
Click here to read the original article: https://www.agrolink.com.br/noticias/exportacao-de-tilapia-avanca-com-desburocratizacao_497497.html

Sharing is caring!