Super farmer formed in Chile deal

THE Chilean agriculture and aquaculture company Agrosuper acquired AquaChile last month to become the second largest salmon farmer in the world, behind Mowi (formerly Marine Harvest). The deal is reportedly worth $850 million.

It is the latest in a series of consolidations in the Chilean salmon farming industry, with both Agrosuper and AquaChile recently concluding deals to buy smaller firms.

AquaChile, one of Chile’s largest salmon producers, recently struck a $255 million deal to purchase two smaller Chilean fish farming operations, boosting the company’s access to the Magallanes region of Patagonia. Agrosuper, meanwhile, owns the salmon farmer Los Fiordos.

Agrosuper will produce more than 200,000 tonnes a year, about 30 per cent of Chile’s total production and reportedly around double that of its closest competitor, Cermaq.

‘The acquisition will allow a highly qualified team with vast experience in the business to be integrated into the company’s aquaculture segment, together with high-standard facilities and a great productive potential,’ said the company.