Abstract: Several scientific studies related to productive chain efficiency and competitiveness investigation are driven to agroindustrial sector, with emphasis on the supply chain. In this context, this paper aims to investigate the development of the aquaculture sector by evaluating the viability of shrimp farming in the State of S?o Paulo, Brazil. For this purpose, a methodology that analyses agroindustrial chain competitiveness was adopted. The methodology consists in electing and analyzing competitiveness and efficiency drivers for each chain stage (production, processing and distribution). This kind of analysis was, for the first time, applied to studies of business viability. Traditional viability analyses are based on cost-benefit analysis, which neglects a systemic approach of a supply chain. The analysis of chain environment permitted the identification of barriers and the factors that influence shrimp farming sustained development in the State of S?o Paulo. The results indicate that the methodology proposed was efficient for viability analysis on the productive chain level. It also indicated that the levels of processing and distribution presented barriers, which should be analyzed in order to improve chain competitiveness.