The first phase of the BioMar Ecuador expansion has been inaugurated, adding manufacturing muscle for the country’s fast-growing shrimp sector, with a second and larger build-out already in the pipeline.
The ceremony took place on 29 October. It is part of a plan to take capacity at the Ecuadorian site from 300,000 to 410,000 tonnes during 2026. The next phase is expected to add a further 200,000–300,000 tonnes alongside additional development of the site’s infrastructure. If delivered in full, that would carry the facility beyond 600,000 tonnes.
Debottlenecking and a new line
The first phase delivers on a commitment BioMar made earlier this year, when it took full ownership of BioMar Ecuador by acquiring the remaining 30% shareholding. The capacity gain comes from improvements to existing operations plus a new production line, and the project was originally slated for completion in the third quarter of 2026.
For feed buyers, the company is not relying on the plant alone. BioMar continues to supplement its own output with external capacity to cover demand for its feed solutions, and it intends to keep working with its toll milling partners as the build-out proceeds.
“Ecuador is one of the most important shrimp markets globally, and we see strong potential for continued growth. Our investments in production capacity are driven by the development of our customer partnerships and the increasing demand for high-performance feed solutions,” explains Henrik Aarestrup, VP LATAM Shrimp & Hatchery at BioMar.
From smaller farms to the sector’s largest players
The investment reflects a shift in BioMar’s Ecuadorian customer base. Over recent years, the business has moved beyond small and medium-sized shrimp farmers to long-term strategic collaborations with some of the country’s largest and most advanced producers. That growth has come as the national industry expanded sharply; Ecuadorian shrimp output nearly tripled after BioMar entered the market in 2017, reaching around 1.3 million tonnes in 2022.
“This expansion allows us to increase our production capacity and strengthen our ability to respond to our customers’ needs. Together with our toll milling partners, with whom we will continue to work, it enables us to keep pace with the growth of the market. This inauguration is an important achievement for our team in Ecuador, but it is also the foundation for the next phase of our expansion,” says Andres Rivadulla, Managing Director at BioMar Ecuador.
The company has previously indicated that the second phase would combine pelletised and extruded feed lines and require changes to the site’s infrastructure.
