US-China trade war could benefit Latin American tilapia

A tariff imposition on Chinese frozen tilapia fillets into the United States could provide Latin American tilapia exporters with an opportunity, although the price differential would still be considerable.

Colombian tilapia farmers, who are seeing fresh tilapia prices fall in the United States, are looking for two alternatives to increase margins: increasing frozen fillet production and sales, and expanding to new markets.

“A 25 percent US tariff on Chinese tilapia fillets could be an opening for us in that market, but even with that our product would continue to be more expensive,” Cesar Cantos, CEO of tilapia farmer Aquabest Seafoods, told IntraFish.