Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte contribute 80 per cent of Brazil's shrimp production. (Photo: Camanor)

Shrimp export to Europe renewed

BRAZIL
Thursday, April 23, 2009, 15:40 (GMT + 9)

Fifty containers with 1,000 tonnes of Brazilian shrimp harvested from the states of Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte will be shipped to Europe in late May.

The shipment will effectively mark the return of domestic shrimp's sale on the international market, at a time when both states project increases of around 20 per cent in local production, Diario do Nordeste reports.

Ceara and Rio Grande do Norte contribute 80 per cent of Brazil's farmed shrimp production.

The agreement to carry out joint exports was signed 15 April, during a meeting of the Sectorial Chamber of the Shrimp Productive Chain of Ceara State, which was held at the State Economic Development Agency (ADECE).

According to the president of the Chamber, Christian Peixoto Maia, overseas markets were sought after due to concerns on whether or not Brazilian consumers would be able to absorb the boost in national production.

“Our shrimp beats Chinese shrimp in quality but cannot compete with it in terms of price,” the leader indicated. “Now with the fall of Chinese exports, we have the opportunity to win over the market."

Brazilian exporters also hope shrimp prices in the European market will begin to increase starting next month, he said.

“A kilo of shrimp costs around USD 3.80 in Europe. In order to compensate for our export costs, ideally its value should reach USD 4.80. This will not be difficult, given the absence of shrimp in the market due to the retraction of Chinese exports,” he added.

Now, 90 per cent of Ceara’s shrimp is funneled into the national market, while the rest is exported.

Until 2003, in turn, 80 per cent of the Brazilian state’s shrimp yield was exported.

Ceara and Rio Grande del Norte produce 50,000 tonnes of shrimp per year on average, whereas 65,000 tonnes are produced nationwide.

By Analia Murias
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com

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