AQUAGOLD

What AQUAGOLD does

AQUAGOLD S.A. is a vertically integrated Ecuadorian shrimp producer and exporter, founded in 2012 and headquartered in Durán, Guayas, as part of the COPACIGULF S.A. business group. The company breeds, raises, and processes Penaeus vannamei (white shrimp) across 10,000 hectares of farms — 6,000 of which are ASC-certified — with annual production volume of approximately 78,000 tons. Its state-of-the-art $60 million processing facility in Guayas covers 100,000 m² (20,000 m² of dedicated processing space) and supports three freezing technologies: Individual Quick Freezing (IQF), semi-IQF, and block freezing, with a capacity of 7,000 metric tons per month. The company also operates a differentiated 'Pesca Viva' (live harvest) line for premium Asian and gourmet markets, leveraging proprietary real-time monitoring and a 'Life Chain' transport protocol.

The business runs as a B2B exporter, supplying industrial food manufacturers, global seafood distributors, and foodservice operators across Europe, Asia, and the Americas, with strategic offices in Europe and China. Revenue is generated through direct sales and export distribution channels; pricing is negotiated bilaterally and not publicly disclosed. GTM is anchored by enterprise field sales and intensive participation in major seafood trade fairs (Seafood Expo Global, Conxemar, China Fisheries & Seafood Expo, World Seafood Shanghai). The value proposition rests on full vertical integration, ASC/BAP/BRCGS/HACCP/SMETA certification stack, and consistent year-round supply to global buyers.

The company is led by CEO Atilio Solano, employs a stated 129 corporate staff (with approximately 1,000 direct jobs claimed in marketing materials), and was recognized as Great Place To Work Certified for 2025–2026. It is privately held under COPACIGULF S.A. with no public listing or external institutional investment disclosed. Revenue figures are not publicly available.

Name

AQUAGOLD

Legal name

AQUAGOLD S.A.

Website

https://aquagold.com.ec

Company type

Private

Founded year

2012

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

AQUAGOLD is a vertically integrated Ecuadorian producer and exporter of Penaeus vannamei white shrimp, operating 10,000 hectares of farms and a $60 million processing plant, supplying industrial partners, distributors, and foodservice operators across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aquaculture and Seafood Processing

NAICS

Aquaculture (1125), Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging (3117)

SIC

Agricultural Prod-Livestock & Animal Specialties (200), Prepared Fresh Or Frozen Fish & Seafoods (2092)

akta.pro primary industry

Crustacean Farming (e.g., shrimp, prawns, crab) (AFAEAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Aquaculture Processing & On-Farm Value-Add (primary handling, icing, packing) (AFAEAAAN), Aquaculture Harvest, Processing & Packing (Farmed Finfish/Shellfish; On-Farm Plants) (AFANADAL)

Keywords

• Shrimp farming
• Aquaculture production
• Seafood export
• Frozen shrimp processing
• Sustainable aquaculture

Headquarters

HQ city

Guayas

HQ country

Ecuador

HQ region

Latin America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Shrimp Production and Export: Aquagold generates revenue through the breeding, production, processing and global export of premium Ecuadorian white shrimp (Penaeus vannamei). The fully integrated value chain encompasses farm operations, hatchery, processing plant, and international distribution.
2. Industrial Shrimp Products: Supply of processed shrimp to industrial partners, food sector companies, and distributors worldwide through B2B sales relationships.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Aquagold is an Ecuadorian shrimp producer and exporter operating a fully integrated value chain from hatchery to global export. The company breeds, farms, processes, and distributes premium Penaeus vannamei white shrimp across 10,000 hectares of sustainable farms, with a state-of-the-art processing plant capable of 7,000 metric tons per month using IQF, Semi-IQF, and Block Freezing technologies. It also offers the specialized Pesca Viva live shrimp product for premium Asian and gourmet markets.

Product overview

AQUAGOLD is an Ecuadorian shrimp processing and exporting company operating a fully integrated vertical system from hatchery to export. The company manages over 10,000 hectares of sustainable shrimp farms producing 78,000 tons annually of Penaeus vannamei white shrimp, with 6,000 hectares ASC-certified. Their state-of-the-art 100,000 m² processing plant in Guayas (with 20,000 m² dedicated to processing) offers three primary freezing technologies: IQF (Individual Quick Freezing), Semi-IQF, and Block Freezing. The company also specializes in live shrimp (Pesca Viva) for premium markets. All operations are backed by $60 million investment and certified under BPM, HACCP, BRCGS, ASC, BAP, BASC, and SMETA standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• White Shrimp (Penaeus vannamei) Premium Ecuadorian white shrimp raised sustainably across 10,000 hectares of farms (6,000 hectares ASC-certified), producing 78,000 tons annually for industrial and distributor customers worldwide.
• Pesca Viva (Live Shrimp)

Quantifiable outcome

• 78,000 tons annual production capacity
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAquagold maintains strong support from the National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) and participates in the Ecuador First Class Shrimp pavilions, which serve as decisive platforms to project corporate identity and vision. The partnership reinforces Aquagold's positioning as a company with solidity, modernity, and forward-looking vision in the Ecuadorian shrimp industry.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Nippon Suisan Kaisha (Nissui): Japanese seafood major with aquaculture operations and global processing footprint. Comparable in processed/frozen shrimp offerings and Asian distribution, though broader in species and product categories.
• Maruha Nichiro: Japan's largest seafood company with global aquaculture, processing, and distribution operations. Overlaps with Aquagold in frozen and processed shrimp products, particularly for Asian markets.
• Thai Union Group: Global seafood conglomerate with shrimp processing and brands (Chicken of the Sea, King Oscar). Overlaps with Aquagold in frozen and value-added shrimp product categories but serves a much wider seafood portfolio globally.
• Pescanova: International seafood group with significant farmed shrimp operations and processing capacity. Comparable in frozen shrimp product categories and European/Asian distribution channels.
• Charoen Pokphand Foods (CPF): Asia's largest aquaculture and shrimp producer with vertically integrated operations and global distribution. Comparable in integrated farming and processing but operates across multiple species and geographies.

Direct peers

• Expalsa (Exportadora de Alimentos S.A.): Ecuadorian shrimp processor and exporter with multiple international certifications and global distribution. Operates in the same Penaeus vannamei value chain with similar B2B export customer profile.
• Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila: One of Ecuador's largest vertically integrated shrimp producers and exporters, operating hatcheries, farms, and processing plants. Directly comparable in species (Penaeus vannamei), geography, and B2B export customer base.
• Omarsa S.A. Major Ecuadorian shrimp farming and processing company with international certifications and global export presence. Closely comparable in scale, integrated value chain, and target markets across Europe, Asia, and the Americas.
• Grupo Nueva (Camarones): Ecuador-based aquaculture group producing farmed shrimp with vertical integration and export focus. Comparable in product category, integrated farming-to-processing model, and international distribution footprint.
• Songa S.A. Ecuadorian shrimp producer and exporter with vertically integrated operations. Comparable in species, geographic footprint, and export-oriented business model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/aquagoldec

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about AQUAGOLD