AquaSur 2026: Brazilian Renderers brings together authorities in Chile

Puerto Montt hosted AquaSur 2026 from March 24 to 26, recognized as the largest aquaculture trade show in the Southern Hemisphere. At booth R28, Brazilian Renderers — a partnership between the Brazilian Association of Animal Recycling (ABRA) and tthe Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), — was present alongside member companies, authorities from both countries, and a robust agenda of commercial and institutional engagements.

Chile is the world’s second-largest salmon producer, accounting for 33% of global supply, with exports exceeding USD 8.8 billion annually and a presence in more than 100 countries. It is in this market that Brazil has been investing systematically — and AquaSur 2026 represented another step in this direction.

According to the event organizers, AquaSur 2026 reached a historic record of 30,959 visitors, representing a 37% increase compared to the previous edition. The event gathered 550 exhibitors from 34 countries and, for the first time in its 13 editions, featured the participation of the President of the Republic, José Antonio Kast, as well as former President Eduardo Frei during the opening ceremony.

Institutional presence

ABRA took part in the official inauguration ceremony of the Brazil Stand, alongside high-level representatives from both governments: Fabiana Maldonado, from the Secretariat of Trade and International Relations of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA); João Marcelo Conte Cornetet, from the Embassy of Brazil in Chile; José Luis Ravagnani Vargas, Director of the Department of Fish Industry (DIP) at Brazil’s Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture (MPA); and Rodrigo Padovani, Agricultural Attaché in Santiago.

The Brazilian Renderers booth welcomed prominent visitors throughout the three-day event, including Osvaldo Urrutia, Chile’s Undersecretary of Fisheries and Aquaculture (Subpesca), accompanied by his team — a sign of the growing interest of the Chilean government in solutions from the Brazilian animal rendering sector.

Strategic meeting with Consejo del Salmón

One of the key moments of the participation was the meeting with Chile’s Consejo del Salmón AG, the main representative organization of the country’s salmon farming industry. The meeting brought together Loreto Seguel King, Executive President of the Council; Rodrigo Pinto, Corporate and Compliance Director; and Pablo Barahona, Director of International Trade — in addition to Rodrigo Padovani and representatives from Minerva Foods, Walter Nöthling and Rodrigo Araújo, who also serves on ABRA’s Fiscal Council.

The meeting opened space for direct dialogue on international cooperation and concrete opportunities for supplying Brazilian ingredients to the Chilean salmon farming value chain.

Brazilian Renderers

Since 2012, ABRA and ApexBrasil have partnered on the Brazilian Renderers project with the goal of promoting exports from the animal recycling sector—animal-origin meals and fats, blood products, palatants, and hydrolyzed proteins. Through participation in trade shows, the organization of workshops, and other special trade promotion initiatives, the project highlights key attributes of the animal recycling industry and its products—such as quality, sanitary status, and sustainable production—while strengthening the international brands of these products and fostering new business opportunities for Brazilian exporters.

Information on how to join the sectoral projects is available at brazilianrenderers.com.

About ABRA

The Brazilian Association of Animal Recycling (ABRA) represents industries in the animal recycling sector that produce meals, fats, blood products, hydrolyzed proteins, and palatants used as ingredients in feed formulations for livestock and pet food, as well as fats used in biofuel production.

ABRA is a non-profit organization founded in 2006. It works to promote its members, disseminate initiatives related to the sector, mediate relationships with other organizations and government bodies, and foster business development in both domestic and international markets.

More information: abra.ind.br

About ApexBrasil

The Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) works to promote Brazilian products and services abroad and to attract foreign investment into strategic sectors of the Brazilian economy.

To achieve these goals, ApexBrasil carries out targeted trade promotion initiatives designed to boost exports and enhance the value of Brazilian products and services internationally. These include trade and prospecting missions, business matchmaking rounds, support for Brazilian companies participating in major international trade fairs, visits by foreign buyers and opinion leaders to learn about Brazil’s production structure, among other business platforms aimed at strengthening the Brazil Brand.

The Agency also works in coordination with public and private stakeholders to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) to Brazil, focusing on sectors strategic to improving the competitiveness of Brazilian companies and the country as a whole.

More information: apexbrasil.com.br

Source: ABRA Communications Office
Luísa Schardong, Journalist