Cargill plans to build a 60,000-metric-ton tilapia feed plant in Tehuacan, Mexico, according to a report. The company plans to break ground in July 2014.
“The facility will have an extrusion line that will enable us to produce tilapia feed in the southeast region of the country where tilapia fish production is growing. It also positions us to better serve our customers’ growth plans,” a company spokeswoman said in the report.
“Our plan would be to start production in January 2015. When operational, this expansion will bring additional new permanent jobs that will be hired locally,” the spokeswoman said.
Mexico’s shrimp harvests has been decimated in recent years due to early mortality syndromw (EMS), making tilapia the country’s new aquaculture favorite. The domestic demand of tilapia also is strong.
In 2015, Mexico’s tilapia production is expected to reach 87,000 tons, and could reach 100,000 tons by 2016.
