Tilapia is Brazil’s most widely farmed fish, according to the UN Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO).
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Brazil’s farmed fish production exceeded 1 million tonnes for the first time in 2025, marking a milestone for the country's aquaculture sector and reinforcing its position as the leading producer in the Americas, according to the latest yearbook from industry body Peixe BR.
Total output reached 1,011,540 tonnes, a 4.41% increase compared with 2024.
“We have surpassed the barrier of 1 million tons of farmed fish produced in Brazil,” said PEIXE BR president Francisco Medeiros, noting that only “a select and exclusive group of countries” had reached the milestone.
Despite the record, the reported growth took place against a challenging backdrop, as Peixe BR points out adverse weather conditions, sanitary issues and price instability as factors affecting producers. The report also highlights external trade pressures, including steep increase in tariffs imposed by the United States on Brazilian products, which Peixe BR said increased competition with imported tilapia from Vietnam.
Tilapia remained the dominant species in Brazilian aquaculture, accounting for nearly 70% of total production. Output of this fish species reached 707,495 tonnes in 2025, up almost 7% year on year - and representing a 148.2% increase compared with 2015 levels.
The Peixe report suggested that a variety of factors have led to this expansion, including rising domestic and international demand, alongside improvements in genetics, feed, production systems and processing.
However, while tilapia production expanded, other segments showed somewhat weaker performance. Native fish production totalled 257,070 tonnes, down 0.63% compared with 2024, marking a third consecutive annual decline. Production of other species, including pangasius, trout and carp, also fell slightly to 46,975 tonnes, a decline of 1.75% year on year.
The yearbook suggests that future growth in the sector will depend on continued investment across the production chain, including genetics, nutrition, equipment and processing, as well as activities to expand both domestic consumption and export markets. It also points to the importance of public policies supporting financing, logistics and market development, particularly for native species.
PEIXE BR president Francisco Medeiros said the sector aims to build on the progress made, adding: “We intend to close the next decades in world leadership of farmed fish production.”
