Brazilian seafood exporter Prime Seafood is targeting growth in the region of 50 percent this year, led by sales of new species.

The company posted sales of around $30 million (€27.3 million) in 2019.

While exports account for a high proportion of the company's business, the domestic market is expected to see significant growth this year, helped by high prices for meat, particularly beef.

"With exports of other fresh and frozen fish we should reach the $45 million (€41 million) level," Eduardo Lobo, a partner in the business and president of processors association ABIPESCA, told IntraFish.

Lobster has been a mainstay of the Prime Seafood's business, but new lines include tuna, snapper, grouper, yellowtail among others.

A pick up in the US market in 2019 saw a shift in the balance of the company's overseas shipments, which are now split 55/45 in favor of the United States, having previously been 60/40 in favor of China.

The company has plants in the northeast states of Bahia and Pernambuco employing some 350 people.

Fish consumption in Brazil could rise more than 20 percent this year, helped by high meat prices, as well as higher demand from retailers and the foodservice sector, seafood processors ABIPESCA forecasts.

The trade body also expects this to drive a similar percentage increase in processors' revenues.

Separate trade fisheries and processors trade body Conepe expects a more modest increase of 7-8 percent this year.