Fish consumption in Brazil should grow by around 30% during the Holy Week period, according to estimates of Francisco Medeirospresident of Peixe BR (Brazilian Fish Farming Association).According to him, the sector started 2026 with better performance than observed in previous years, with strong sales already in January and good volumes of stocks to meet retail demand.
According to Medeiros, producing companies entered 2026 with advance orders and greater logistics organization, which helps to sustain supply during the period of greatest consumption. The expectation is that prices on the shelves will be maintained and in some cases even a slight drop over the levels recorded in recent years.
“Tilapia remains the most consumed fish in the country and also performs well during Carnival”, he says. According to the executive, it is a light and healthy food, which has gained space on the Brazilian consumer’s menu. Currently, national consumption of tilapia stands at 4 kilos per inhabitant per year — a volume still considered low by the sector. Despite this, growth is consistent.
In the last 11 years, tilapia consumption has increased, on average, 10.3% per year. For Medeiros, this movement reflects a recent “awakening” of the fish market. He highlights that the organized fish production chain in Brazil is around a decade old, which characterizes the segment as relatively new within agribusiness.
Imports and tariffs
The year 2025 was challenging for the sector, which began the period with an increase in imports of tilapia fillet from Vietnam and throughout the year faced tariff measures imposed by the United States. “Still, Brazil ended the period with 2% growth in exports, especially expanding sales to Canada and opening new markets”, says the executive.
According to data from Peixe-Br, in 2024 the production of farmed fish was 968.745 thousand tons, placing Brazil in the spotlight as the main producer in the Americas, Tilapia led the leap in fish farming in the period, with 662,230 tonswhich represents an increase of a significant 14.36% compared to 2023. For this year, the assessment is that the scenario will continue to be demanding, although with signs of firm demand and a greater production structure to sustain the increase in consumption.
A detailed survey carried out by Peixe-BR shows growth in tilapia production in practically the entire country – with the exception of the northern region, where native fish are strongly present. This scenario is due to the species’ cultivation conditions, the commitment of producers, the economic return of the activity and, ultimately, the continuous increase in consumption in all locations.
