EN 
PT_BR 
For the first time, Brazil imported more tilapia than it exported, according to data from Peixe BR. In February alone, the country brought in more than 1,300 tons of fillets from Vietnam, equivalent to about 4,100 tons of live fish, approximately 6.51 TP4T of Brazil's monthly production.
Tilapia continues to be one of the fastest-growing protein sources in Brazilian fish farming. Over the past decade, production has increased by an average of more than 10% per year, positioning Brazil as the fourth largest producer of this species worldwide.
President of Peixe BR, Francisco Medeiros: “This is practically the price of fish when it arrives at the processing plant in Brazil. This creates a significant distortion in competition” – Photo: Press Release/Peixe BR
The organization points out that the price difference has encouraged the entry of foreign fish. Imported fillets arrive on the Brazilian market costing between R$ 25 and R$ 29 per kilo, practically the same price as domestic fish when it reaches the processing plants. "This is practically the price of the fish when it arrives at the processing plant in Brazil. This creates a significant distortion in competition," said the president of Peixe BR, Francisco Medeiros.
According to the association, factors such as tax burden, labor costs, and regulatory requirements also harm the competitiveness of Brazilian products. In some cases, imported fish enters the country with tax advantages.
Peixe BR has also requested a technical mission to Vietnam from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock to assess sanitary risks. The Asian country has recorded diseases such as the TiLV virus, which are not yet present in Brazilian production and can cause high mortality. "We need this analysis urgently," warns Medeiros.
The increase in imports coincides with Lent, a period of higher fish consumption in Brazil, and may influence prices in the domestic market. “Exports help to balance the market. With more imports, this effect diminishes, potentially affecting the sector,” explains Medeiros. He reinforces: “We are not against imports, but we want equal conditions to compete.”
