Brasília, May 3, 2004 (Agência Brasil) - Brazilian shrimp´exports grew 20.3%, from 11.3 thousand to 13.6 thousand tons, in the first quarter of 2004, compared with the same period last year. Data from the Brazilian Association of Shrimp Breeders (ABCC) also show that the sector's earnings rose 11.6%, from US$ 45.3 million to US$ 50.6 million.

The ABCC expects to export 76 thousand tons of shrimp in 2004, generating revenues of US$ 300 million. Foreign sales last year totaled 58.4 thousand tons, bringing in receipts worth US$ 226 million.

To increase the publicity on behalf of Brazilian shrimp abroad, 11 Brazilian exporters will take part in the European Seafood Fair, the largest of its type on the European continent. The fair takes place from May 4-6 in Brussels, Belgium. According to the ABCC, around 1.4 thousand exhibitors from 100 countries will participate in the fair. The event covers the entire seasfood productive chain, from producers and exporters to suppliers of equipment, inputs, and technological tools.

Another objective of the Brazilian producers is to gain new markets for the product, which is jeopardized by the anti-dumping suit introduced by American fishermen. The American government will issue its decision on the application of a surcharge on Brazilian shrimp imports in June.

Europe is the world's largest shrimp importer, 569 thousand tons in 2003. According to the ABCC, Europe has increased its imports of Brazilian shrimp. In 2003 Europeans imported 63% of Brazil's total shrimp exports. This percentage amounted to 52% the year before.

For the president of the ABCC, Itamar Rocha, European buyers are the ones that impose the strictest rules on imports. He cites the example of China, which is barred from exporting shrimp to Europe, because antibiotics are used in the production. "Europeans are very demanding in relation to sanitary conditions. Moreover, they do not accept shrimp bred with the use of feed that contains transgenics," he affirms.

Translator: David Silberstein