POET has taken another major step in its global growth strategy with the launch of POET de Ecuador, a new international location designed to meet rising demand for high-value, nutrient-dense feed ingredients like corn fermented protein (CFP) across Latin America’s rapidly expanding aquaculture sector.
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The decision to establish a presence in Ecuador was driven by both opportunity and experience. POET has been exporting products to the country for years and has built strong relationships with several leading shrimp producers, an industry that represents one of the world’s fastest-growing and most technologically advanced aquaculture markets.
The expansion also builds on POET’s strength as the 11th-largest container shipper in the U.S., a logistics advantage that positions the company to compete globally with confidence and scale.
“We already had a solid customer base in Ecuador,” said POET Latin America Merchandising Manager Edgardo Cazares, who leads POET de Ecuador in addition to the POET de Mexico team. “Ecuador’s shrimp production is a sophisticated, high-tech market that’s been growing near double digits. Once we saw how receptive producers were to the innovation behind POET’s Corn Fermented Protein, establishing a permanent presence just made sense.”
According to POET Director of High Protein Ingredients Derek Balk, the new location strengthens POET’s competitive position and offers advantages that simply weren’t possible through exports alone. “For POET to continue to grow, we have to be willing and able to go international,” he said. “North America represents only about a quarter of global animal feed production. If we want access to the broader market, we need to bring the POET experience directly to the customer’s door.”
Launching a formal subsidiary also reflects POET’s disciplined, intentional approach to international expansion.
“We’re very calculated in what we do,” said POET Bioproducts Vice President of Business Operations Trevor Freudenthal. “We don’t take these decisions lightly, but once we aligned on the opportunity, our team moved fast, and everyone was all in.”
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That company-wide engagement was a defining part of establishing the new operation. “It was definitely a cross-department initiative,” said Freudenthal. “It involved our bioproducts team, legal, tax, accounting, communications, everybody.” The cross-functional effort not only accelerated the launch but also ensured that POET de Ecuador would be built on the same foundation of quality, compliance, and dependable service that defines POET’s domestic operations.
POET’s investment in Ecuador delivers significant value for local aquaculture operations. By importing products directly, managing inland logistics, and keeping inventory on hand in-country, the company can ensure consistent supply and reliable service — key needs for an aquaculture industry that depends on predictable feed inputs.
“Before this, each customer was managing their own supply chain,” Balk explained. “That made it difficult for POET to optimize shipments, especially during periods of high demand. With POET de Ecuador, we can ship when production is strong, build inventory ahead of peak seasons, and smooth out the peaks and valleys.”
POET’s investment also builds on the company’s expanding logistics footprint, including the significant growth at POET Terminal – Savannah, which serves as the origin point for product moving to Ecuador. “Owning that site has been a game-changer,” Cazares noted. “We always know we’ll have the capacity we need, and as Savannah grows, POET can grow with it.”
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Ecuador’s aquaculture industry — particularly shrimp — has proven to be an ideal fit for POET’s CFP. Producers there are highly educated, disciplined, and quick to adopt innovations that improve feed conversion, health, and overall performance.
“Shrimp production sees significant value created with their use of CFP,” Cazares said. “Producers can measure improvements quickly, even small ones, because their operations are run so efficiently.”
According to Balk, that performance edge is a major driver of demand. “They’re looking for digestible, nutrient-dense protein sources,” he said. “CFP typically provides a $7 to $12 per ton advantage depending on proteins replaced; combine that with producers seeing about a 5% improvement in survivability. That’s huge.”
POET’s history in Ecuador illustrates both the potential and the momentum of its new investment. “We started with one container in 2018,” Balk recalled. “By 2022 and 2023, we had grown exponentially. POET de Ecuador builds on that strong foundation and positions us to grow even further as demand continues to rise.”
With a dedicated local presence, a strengthened supply chain, and a product uniquely suited to the region’s needs, POET is poised to play an even larger role in one of the world’s most dynamic aquaculture markets.
“Ultimately,” Cazares said, “this is about giving producers in Ecuador consistent access to a high-quality, reliable, innovative protein source, and supporting them as they continue to lead the global shrimp industry.”
