Extra feed line to handle Ecuador shrimp growth
BIOMAR Group is to build a new line for extruded shrimp feed in Ecuador to keep up with the growth in volumes being sold.
The expansion will accommodate the development of new product ranges and is expected to be ready in early 2020.
The new line will add approximately 40,000 tonnes capacity and is expected to become operational in Q1 2020, a year after the latest capacity expansion, which is due in Q1 2019.
‘We have experienced a strong growth in Ecuador since the acquisition of Alimentsa in 2017 and we currently operate at our capacity limit,’ said Henrik Aarestrup, vice-president Emerging Markets in the BioMar Group.
‘For our customers, the new line will mean increased flexibility and increased choice, as it will significantly expand our capacity for extruded and value added feed solutions.’
Shrimp production in Ecuador has been growing by double digits in 2018, making the country the third largest shrimp producing nation in the world.
‘The Ecuadorian shrimp sector will continue to grow in the coming years, however at a somewhat slower pace than in 2018, where we have seen an exceptionally high growth,’ Aarestrup added.
‘Ecuador has a competitive edge when it comes to producing shrimp in a responsible manner, with high focus on both sustainability and product quality.
‘Recent initiatives, such as the launch of the Sustainable Shrimp Partnership, will further enhance this position.’
The investment is part of BioMar’s strategic plan for the shrimp business, which also includes a recently inaugurated research and trial unit in connection with the plant in Ecuador.