Brazil's aquaculture sector continues its rapid growth, solidifying its position as a global player in farmed fish production. In 2024, the industry reached a record 968,745 tons, marking a 9.21% increase compared to the previous year, according to the Brazilian Farming Fish Association (Peixe BR) 2025 Yearbook. This expansion highlights the resilience of the sector, even in the face of economic and environmental challenges. The growth in the production of farmed fish in 2024 was the highest in the ten years of a survey by Peixe BR.
Tilapia leads the growth
Tilapia remains the driving force behind Brazil's aquaculture growth. In 2024, production reached 662,230 tons, a 14.36% increase, accounting for 68.36% of total farmed fish production. This growth was fueled by investments in infrastructure, genetic improvement, and feed efficiency.
Notably, Brazil has become the second-largest exporter of fresh tilapia fillet to the United States, strengthening its presence in international markets.
Native fish production has declined
The production of native species fell by 1.81%, totalling 258,705 tons. This marks a continued downward trend, particularly in the Northern region, where production is heavily concentrated. Despite lower supply, prices for native fish improved, signaling market potential if production stabilizes. The report calls for greater collaboration between public and private sectors to reverse this decline.
The production of other species, such as pangasius, carp, and trout, increased by 7.5%, reaching 47,810 tons, with pangasius production expanding significantly in northeastern Brazil.
Challenges facing the sector
Despite its success, Brazilian aquaculture faced several hurdles in 2024 marked by two main reasons: 1) The market pressure from imports: the temporary suspension of Vietnamese tilapia imports was a significant victory for local producers, avoiding market saturation and 2) the price fluctuations: a high supply of tilapia in 2023 led to lower producer prices in 2024, affecting producers’ profitability.
Paraná state on top of producers
The state closed 2024 with an increase of 17.35% (250,315 tons), representing 25% of total Brazilian fish production, followed by Minas Gerais, São Paulo and Santa Catarina states.
These numbers prove the success of the Paraná state's farming model, highlighting the unity of producers within cooperatives as well as clusters of independent producers.
Investments and regulatory advances
Brazilian fish farmers and cooperatives have continued to expand their investments, improving farming techniques and processing capabilities. The sector is also anticipating legislative changes, particularly Senate Bill 4.470/2024, which aims to simplify regulations and improve competitiveness. If approved, this law will eliminate bureaucratic obstacles, fostering a more dynamic industry.
Global market trends and opportunities
At a global scale, tilapia production is projected to reach 7.3 million tons in 2025, driven by increasing consumer demand for sustainable protein sources. This presents a significant opportunity for Brazil to further expand its exports, not only in tilapia but also in native species and pangasius, which are gaining market traction.
Brazil expands farmed fish exports in 2024
In 2024, Brazil's farmed fish exports grew by 102% in volume (13,792 metric tons) and 138% in value ($59 million), driven by tilapia sales to the U.S. Fresh fillets and frozen whole fish accounted for 91.7% of total revenue.
The U.S. remained Brazil’s top market, purchasing $52.2 million (89% of exports). Since 2020, Brazil has risen from the eighth to the fourth-largest tilapia supplier to the U.S., with a 718% sales increase. It is now the second-largest supplier of fresh tilapia fillets, behind Colombia.
With strategic investments, regulatory improvements, and market diversification, Brazil's aquaculture sector is poised for continued expansion, reinforcing its role in the global seafood industry.
