THE MARKET IS GOOD FOR FISH: TILAPIA ON THE RISE IN EARLY 2023
Originally from Africa and widely accepted in the world market, tilapia is the fish species most exported by Brazil, making making the country the 4th largest producer of this fish in the world. In addition, the species remains the main exported product in the fish sector, with more than 60% of national production.
In this sense, white tilapia meat is highly appreciated by consumers for being healthy, light and tasty, in addition to containing few thorns. This fact makes tilapia an extremely versatile option, since it is served whole, in fillets or in small pieces and also in different versions such as fried, breaded or grilled.
High Quotations
According to analyzes by Francisco Medeiros, president of PeixesBr (Brazilian Association of Pisciculture), due to the enormous increase in the prices of other proteins of animal origin, the consumption of fish in the domestic market has grown, something that has allowed tilapia to continue its commercialization process in a positive way. A great example is the rise in record levels in the price paid to tilapia producers in recent months.
According to the Cepea survey (Center for Advanced Studies in Applied Economics), the increase in values is linked to the low supply of animals and solid demand, both in the domestic and foreign markets.
Thus, in relation to the main producing regions of the country, the surveys carried out showed that in Northern Paraná, the amount paid to the producer for tilapia in natura averaged R$ 8.75/kg in January, an increase of 1.51% in compared to the previous month. In the Great Lakes region (northwest of the state of São Paulo and the border of Mato Grosso do Sul), the average value increased by 1.52% in the monthly comparison. Minas Gerais also showed rises in the square of Morada Nova de Minas, with an increase of 1.77% in the quotation.
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Consume
In addition, with an increase in production, it is worth mentioning that, according to PeixesBr, every ten kilos of farmed fish consumed by Brazilians, six are tilapia, which means that this species has a higher growth rate than other proteins of animal origin in the country. Added to this, the expectation is that the annual per capita consumption of fish meat possibly exceeds the 10 kilos recorded in previous years, something very significant as Medeiros claims that "there has never been such a sharp growth in consumption in the history of Brazil" .
This appreciation of fish as a whole is excellent for the producer at this time, especially with the arrival of Lent, a period in which Catholics restrict the consumption of red meat.
International Valorization
In addition to greater domestic consumption, PeixesBr also expects growth in the trade of Brazilian tilapia on the international market in 20213. -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
The sector has shown an excellent track record in recent years, as exports in the year 2022_cc784cde-9051-cc781905 bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ increased by more than 50% compared to 2021, which had already increased by 78% when compared to the previous year (2020). Therefore, expectations for 2023 are quite optimistic. In this sense, according to Medeiros, one of the main factors that clarified this phenomenon was the opening of the market for frozen fillet and frozen whole tilapia, which are currently the main products for Brazilian exports.
This fact demonstrates the versatility of this product in the international market: "In 2022 we also greatly increased exports to Tawain with oil and tilapia flour. So today all tilapia products are exported, including scales and skin", argues the president of PeixeBR. Another observation made was that in certain countries where more fillets were sold, more were sold cuts or even whole frozen tilapia, a product that has a lower marketing cost.
Thus, the considerations of the studies carried out by the Associação Brasileira da Piscicultura concluded with enthusiasm that within a period of three to four years Brazil should be close to being the third largest producer of tilapia in the world, since the species that constitutes the main commodity in the sector. Therefore, fish is configured as an excellent product to be marketed and exported in view of consistency in production, price increases and greater international appreciation of this product.
By Clara Cazzaniga on 02/26/2023
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