Marking its introduction into the Ecuadorian market, Indian feed producer and shrimp-farming firm Avanti Feeds has invested USD 3 million (EUR 2.6 million) in Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador, securing a 10 percent stake in the firm, Avanti announced in a statement to the National Stock Exchange of India.
The move will make Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador an associate company and joint venture partner of Avanti Feeds and comes shortly after Thai Union Feedmill (TFM) announced plans to invest up to USD 55 million (EUR 47.1 million) in the construction of an aquaculture business facility in Ecuador.
Though Thai Union Feedmill Ecuador has yet to be incorporated, TFM, which is a Thai aquafeed manufacturer and distributor, said at the time the move seeks to take advantage of Ecuador’s rapid growth in the aquaculture industry and to further expand TFM’s operations beyond Thailand, reducing dependence on the local market and diversifying revenue sources. TFM added that its investment is expected to boost the company’s competitiveness, enhance overall business operations, and generate long‑term value for the company.
The new plant in Ecuador is expected to increase TFM’s total production capacity by about 80 percent, and TFM expects to purchase the land, contract factory construction, and execute purchase agreements for machinery, equipment, and production-supporting tools all in 2026. The actual plant construction and machinery installation is slated to take about two and a half years, with project completion and the launch of commercial operations expected for 2028.
The firm has already hired Eduardo Arosemena as the president of its Ecuador operations.
For its part, Avanti possesses vertically integrated infrastructure comprising aquaculture farms, feed mills, hatcheries, and processing plants. Its seven shrimp feed processing units have production capacity of 775,000 metric tons (MT) per year, serving markets including India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, while its three frozen shrimp processing units have a total capacity of 28,000 MT per year, serving global markets including the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, South Korea, Japan, and China.
