The new ''SyFud'' production plant in Liepaja will significantly increase the export capacity of the Latvian fish industry

With the opening of the new SIA ‘’Syfud'' production facility in Liepaja, production and export capacity of the Latvian fish industry will significantly increase and diversify. Thus, on October 31, the factory of the fish processing company ‘’SyFud'' was opened in Liepaja, the infrastructure and technologies of which have been invested in a total of approximately 80 million euros and whose production capacity could eventually reach up to 250 million euros per year.

SIA ‘’Syfud'', which operates under the ‘’Port Lite'' brand, purchased the land of the former Liepaja fish canning factory in 2020 and started an ambitious investment project, which was implemented in several rounds. As a result, the company has built three buildings with contemporary and modern equipment, guaranteeing a safe, ecological and efficient manufacturing process of fish products.

‘’Latvia, and especially Liepaja, has a long and stable fishing industry tradition, so we are proud to operate in this industry sector. Our goal when planning the production plant in Liepaja was to manufacture new and modern fish processing products that are in demand in the European markets and other countries. We will not, however, compete with other manufacturers of traditional Latvian fish products - rather specialize in the production of new products, contributing to the particular industry and the Latvian economy as a whole,'' says the company founder and CEO Sigitas Ambrazevicius.

Latvian Minister of Agriculture Armands Krauze adds: “Construction of the new fish industry plant in Liepaja is the result of a successful implementation of Latvia's fisheries development policy, which allows for targeted and development-promoting significant investments of EU support funds in Latvia. Of no less importance is that the EU supported investments are made in regions that help the industry to grow more evenly throughout the entire country. Liepaja has always been one of Latvia's fish processing centers, so I am pleased that, thanks to entrepreneurs and the EU funding, fish processing and fishing may survive and develop in this city. The EU support combined with development projects are a good example for other entrepreneurs to modernize or to start their business in the particular industry, thus contributing not only to the development of the fishing industry as such, but also to the entire national economy and solving employment issues.''

The assortment of ‘’Syfud'' includes products of two large categories - crabsticks and other surimi and salmon products. Working at full capacity, the factory will be able to produce 1,000 tons of surimi and 1,000 tons of salmon products monthly, reaching an annual turnover of up to 250 million euros. Achieving the said volume is planned gradually - production of crabsticks was started already in 2021, and it is planned that the full capacity of the installed production lines will be reached within 3 years. The absolute majority of ‘’Syfud'' production is intended for export, about 10% of the production might remain in the
Baltic market. The main export markets will be Germany, France, Italy, Spain and other EU countries, however not only - currently there are also negotiations with partners in the USA.

To ensure consistently high production quality and the customer demands, the latest generation of the highest quality ‘’Marel'', ‘’Reich'' and ‘’Multivac'' equipment has been installed in the factory, it is staffed by experienced and highly qualified specialists, the raw materials for production will be purchased in Norway and the USA.

‘’The efficient ratio of production quality and costs allows ‘’Syfud'' to rank among the TOP3 European producers of smoked salmon. This means that a new, large and very competitive player is entering the market of processed salmon, providing additional capacity and added value to the Latvian fish industry,'' assessed Sigitas Ambrazevicius.

Currently, there are 150 employees in the ‘’Syfud'' factory, whereas by the end of the year the number will increase to 200, and by the end of 2027 - the planned deadline to reach the full production capacity of the factory, the company will need c.a. 800 employees. The new ‘’Syfud'' fish processing plant is an ambitious project that restores the traditions of Liepaja's fish industry and creates hundreds of new jobs thus strengthening our city as the economic and innovation center of the region, promoting Latvia's competitiveness in the world market,'' says the Mayor of Liepaja Gunārs Ansiņš.

The Liepaja SEZ CEO Uldis Hmieļevskis: ‘’The ‘’Syfud'' plant is already the 25 th factory built in the past seven years in the territory of the Liepaja Special Economic Zone, being one of the two factories in the food production sector. Each new factory appears as a proof to the quality of Liepaja's business environment, creates new jobs, provide a significant contribution to the municipal budget, making Liepaja not only the regional business hub, but also an important center of education, culture and sports.''
 

The factory's range of salmon products includes smoked, salted, frozen salmon and trout products in various types of packaging - vacuum packaging, MAP packaging, etc. Salmon also comes from organic and wild catch. “The assortment of surimi or crabsticks includes surimi sticks, pieces, shrimps, various fresh and frozen products in vacuum and other types of packaging - almost everything one can imagine that is needed for retail and food business,'' adds Sigitas Ambrazevicius.

More than seventy-five million euros have been invested in the construction and equipment of the new factory (excluding the value added tax). The project was co-financed by the funds of the Rural Support Service (RAS) administration of the EU European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund measure ‘’Processing of fishing and aquaculture products'' and “Rietumu Bank”.

Jeļena Buraja, Chairwoman of the Board of Rietumu Bank: ‘’Financing of local companies is the cornerstone of our strategy, and the manufacturing sector takes a special place in it. I am convinced that the manufacturing industry needs to be supported, as it creates new jobs, increases the national export potential, and brings tax revenues to the state budget. The role of such companies in the development of the national economy is extremely important, they contribute to regional economic growth by raising the level of public welfare.''
 

SIA ‘’Syfud'' is a Lithuanian capital company registered in Latvia, whose sole owner and true beneficiary is Sigitas Ambrazevicius, a well-known businessman in Lithuania with more than 25 years of experience in the seafood processing and trade industry. As the owner of a number of companies, he is also a socially active philanthropist supporting the arts and sports.