• Among its achievements, it announced a 57% reduction in antibiotic use in the aquaculture segment in recent years and a 35% increase in sales compared to 2020. Additionally, it implemented the contract that will allow the company to supply itself with 100% renewable electric energy.

            Talcahuano, April 8, 2022. Blumar launched its first Integrated Report, in which it communicated advances in sustainability matters and financial results for 2021. This is the first time the company has brought both issues together in a single document, demonstrating the commitment made by the company to place this matter at the center of its business strategy.

Regarding financial results, during 2021 they totaled USD 626.4 million in operational income, which represents a significant increase in both segments compared to 2020. This increase was generated by higher sales in fishing, +17%, and in salmon, +49%.

            Blumar’s board president, Rodrigo Sarquis, stated that “2021 demonstrated that for Blumar not only are financial results important, but also the way in which it manages to generate value. Behind that is the capacity of thousands of people united under a common objective -our employees- to produce food for the world, in a sustainable and efficient manner”.

The fishing and salmon company highlighted the major advances it has made in sustainability, after subscribing to various goals in this matter voluntarily in 2020, within the framework of the syndicated credit with the Sustainability Linked Loan methodology, which made it the first company in the sector to sign an agreement of this type. Its objectives are the reduction of carbon footprint, decrease in antibiotic use, increase in Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC) certifications for salmon, waste management, and use of renewable energy.

Among its achievements is the implementation of the contract that will allow Blumar to supply itself with clean electric energy, from 100% non-conventional renewable sources, which will result in a significant reduction of carbon footprint.

            Additionally, the company was able to reduce antibiotic use in salmon farming by 57% during 2021 compared to the baseline year 2017. This is a significant advance within the framework of the goal committed by the company to reduce its use by 58% by 2027. Along with this, 100% of the facilities obtained the carbon footprint quantification seal from the Chile Footprint Program, being included for the first time the salmon farming centers in the regions of Aysén and Magallanes.

On the other hand, Blumar defined a strategy with the intention of increasing the management and valorization of waste so that, by 2027, 80% of these are valorized in a circular economy scheme. Regarding ASC certifications, the company achieved 59% certification in salmon farming centers, surpassing the objective established at 40% for said period.

The company’s general manager, Gerardo Balbontín, stated that “everything we have presented in this Integrated Report shows our company’s commitment to sustainability and to people. It is the teams located from Caldera to Magallanes that make it possible for us to be at the forefront in these matters. We still have many challenges ahead, but also the conviction that we are on the right path to face the future”.

35% increase in sales

In financial matters, Blumar showed an increase of USD 97.6 million in EBITDA and USD 100.2 million in net income compared to 2020. “2021 was a very positive year for the company. We achieved sustained improvement in financial indicators due to different conditions and the company’s management. During the past year we were able to resume a growth path and fulfill all our commitments, as a result of the global economic reactivation and demand in our main markets”, detailed Blumar’s general manager, Gerardo Balbontín.

  In the case of fishing, revenues and EBITDA increased by 17% and 36%, respectively, which is explained by the higher volume of sales of frozen jack mackerel and by an increase in product prices, and also influencing this result was the recognition of the sale of its stake in Frigorífico Pacífico. 

Meanwhile, in aquaculture it was observed that during the period there was a strong recovery in demand in our main markets, which resulted in a significant increase in prices of 38% compared to the 2020 average. This allowed a shift from an EBITDA of USD -47.1 million to USD 32.7 million.