The high cost of airfreight is forcing Brazilian tilapia exporters to switch from shipping fresh fillets to shipping frozen products on container vessels to the US market.

Global container shipping rates have been falling in recent months after more than quadrupling for some routes following the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020 and a container shipping crisis that slashed availability leaving seafood firms to battle for space on board vessels.

While rates still remain very much above pre-pandemic levels, it appears they are becoming competitive enough on routes to North America to lead Brazilian producers battered by high input costs to load their fish onto container ships carrying frozen products.