|
Shrimp farm. (Photo: pesca.sp.gov.br)
Ceara shrimp industry expects to grow 20pc in 2015
(BRAZIL, 9/23/2015)
Consolidated as the largest domestic shrimp producer, Ceara state deals with the economic problems faced by Brazil and expects to achieve ambitious targets this year.
The shrimp farming industry of Ceará, which currently generates BRL 1,000 million (USD 252 million) annually, projects growth of 20 per cent in value terms by 2015.
The sector expects to close the year with a production of 50,000 tonnes, equivalent to 66.7 per cent of the total production of farmed shrimp from Brazil, which is about 75,000 tonnes, according to the Brazilian Association of Shrimp Breeders (ABCC).
"Last year, Ceará production was 43,000 tonnes and this year we are projecting between 50,000 and 55,000 [tonnes]. With the country facing an economic crisis, being able to grow a little is a challenge. And we have plans to further increase [production]," ABCC President, Itamar Rocha told Diario do Nordeste.
The leader pointed out that at this time, almost all the country's shrimp production is for the domestic market, but the current situation encourages producers to try to broaden their horizons.
The high value of the US dollar against the local currency now encourages the industry to place more emphasis on exports, as it happened in the past when they were more significant.
In 2013 Brazil produced a total of 90,000 tonnes of shrimp, and 85,000 tonnes in 2014. The country exported 58,000 tonnes but last year its sales abroad fell to just 270 tonnes. In return, the shrimp industry has been progressing in the domestic market.
"Our production is oriented towards the domestic market, and we want to return to the international market, with a competitive dollar. But we have to increase production. We can not take the product of the domestic market, which was the one that saved the industry. We want to keep the supply and increase production. So we’re making our effort. We are able to achieve structural investments to export again. We have international space," said the president of ABCC.
While the level of shrimp production in Brazil today it is only enough to meet the requirements of the domestic market, Rocha argues that the country has the potential to be one of the main world producers.
As a comparison, he noted that Ceara has the same coast of Ecuador, but the neighboring country produces 330,000 tonnes of marine shrimp using unproductive land and salt water, brackish or salt areas. And Ecuadorian producers exported 277,170 tonnes, which generated USD 2.3 billion, an amount that is higher than exports of all the agribusiness in the Northeast.
"We have conditions, Ceará has many more natural resources in terms of water and soil than Ecuador," he stressed. Therefore, he expressed confidence in government support and private sector, it will be able to strengthen the state's economy.
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
Information of the company:
|
Address:
|
Rua dos Caicós, 1865 - 1º Andar
|
|
City:
|
Natal
|
|
State/ZIP:
|
RN (59052-700)
|
|
Country:
|
Brazil
|
|
Phone:
|
+55 8432 319 786
|
|
Fax:
|
+55 8432 316 291
|
|
E-Mail:
|
abccam@abccam.com.br
|
More about: 
|
|
|
|
Print
