The National Renderers Association (NRA) International Market Development Committee (IMDC) met in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in mid-February to review and discuss current and future marketing plans implemented worldwide.
Taking advantage of this event that was held outside the Washington, DC, area for the first time, NRA organized a special meeting with invited customers from Mexico, giving IMDC members an opportunity to interact with current and potential buyers of fats, greases, and protein meals. During the meeting, the NRA gave presentations that assured customers of the high quality of North American rendered products and provided market information on future trends for fats and greases in 2006. In addition, NRA presented results of aquaculture feeding trials with white shrimp and tilapia. These trials were conducted to demonstrate that high quality animal protein meals could replace fish meal in aquaculture feeds with significant cost reductions. The aquaculture sector represents great potential for increased usage of animal protein meals because it relies heavily on fish meal, a finite resource that depends on varying climatic conditions therefore making it difficult to rely on consistent supplies year after year. The aquaculture sector is growing at an average of nine percent per year worldwide, and the world’s fish meal production capacity will not be enough to support such high growth rates in the future.
Farmed shrimp is Mexico’s top aquaculture commodity by value and it is forecasted to continue growing. But recently, the Mexican private sector has become interested in tilapia farming motivated by a growing export market for fresh tilapia filet. Currently, tilapia production in Mexico is of an artisan nature where fishermen capture tilapia in dams and lakes to supply the local market. But the private sector is now in the process of making important investments to establish properly managed intensive production systems that can produce the quality and consistent volumes required by international importers of fresh tilapia filet.
The IMDC meeting in Puerto Vallarta presented a great opportunity for current and future customers of North American renderers to establish a personal contact that will help increase sales of rendered products to the region. The diverse group of buyers represented different sectors of the feed industry such as poultry, swine, livestock, pet food, and aquaculture in addition to representatives of the soap manufacturing industry. Invited guests were very pleased to have the opportunity to meet different suppliers in one place and exchange ideas as well as discuss business opportunities.
International Report - April 2006 Render