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16 Commodity & Market Update//

SHRIMP Indonesia, processed shrimp exports, including breaded

Farmed shrimp supply remains stable in Asia; shrimp, increased to Japan and the US markets, in comparison
with raw frozen products.
increased production in Latin America
Mexico’s export growth was significantly higher (+41%)
Strong imports in China cushioned the demand shortfalls of during the review period as compared to the previous year,
traditional large markets where imports were rather stagnant supported by strong demand from China and the Republic
throughout 2019. However, even with lacklustre imports, the of Korea. Peruvian shrimp exports also increased, albeit at a
US emerged as a price setter in the global market for shrimp more moderate level (+11.2%).
trade. In the early months of 2020 due to the coronavirus
outbreak in China, less shrimp than normal was consumed Imports
during the New Year celebrations, and the forecast is for a
depressed global market in coming months. China’s strong presence in the global shrimp market
continued in 2019. Official imports of shrimp into the country
Supply increased by almost 170% during January-September 2019
Preliminary industry reports for 2019 indicated slightly lower compared with the same period in 2018. On the other hand,
supply in Asia and increased production in Latin America illegal and unreported imports through border trade with
compared with 2018. In general, farmers in Asia have been Vietnam decreased significantly following stringent border
adversely affected by the weak price trends and occurrence control by the Chinese authorities. Total imports of shrimp in
of diseases in certain areas. China during this period (including unreported border trade)
is estimated to have exceeded 500 000 tonnes in the first nine
In China, the world’s largest producer of farmed shrimp, months of 2019.
vannamei production fell below 2018 levels. In India,
production in the major farming regions of Andhra and Consumer demand for shrimp in the US domestic market
Tamil Nadu was below 2018 levels due to the general price was good during the 2019 summer, supported by stable
weakening. However, overall output in India stayed slightly supplies and cheaper prices. Compared with 2018, imports
above 2018 levels due to increased production in the central increased marginally (+1.1%) at 496 287 tonnes from
and eastern regions of the country. Domestic production in January-September 2019, suggesting more than sufficient
Vietnam improved in 2019, but imports of frozen raw material local stocks. Among the top suppliers to the market, imports
declined significantly compared with 2018. increased from India, Ecuador and Vietnam but declined from
Indonesia, Thailand and China. There were higher imports
In 2019, Thai shrimp farmers struggled against environmental from Mexico and Argentina.
and economic factors such as disease in their breeding Under the raw shrimp category, imports of shell-on shrimp
programmes and low market prices, resulting in less in the US were 169 000 tonnes (+12% over 2018). Demand
production when compared to the previous year.
was good for large sized shrimp, and peeled shrimp imports
Elsewhere, in Latin America, the two-digit export growth in also increased to 223 750 tonnes, an increase of 3.2% when
Ecuador, Peru, and Mexico during January- September 2019 compared to the same period in 2018. For the popular
suggested increased supplies of farmed shrimp in these breaded shrimp, imports increased by 2.4% at 36 440 tonnes.
countries compared with 2018. The largest producer in that The supply shortfall of breaded shrimp from China was more
region, Ecuador, harvested over 550 000 tonnes of shrimp in than compensated by increased imports from Vietnam,
2019. For sea-caught shrimp, the Southern Shrimp Alliance Thailand, and Indonesia.
(SSA) reported lower shrimp landings from the American In the Japanese shrimp market, consumer demand improved
Gulf of Mexico during the first ten months of 2019, totalling in 2019 due to the national celebrations on the coronation
31 388 tonnes, the lowest level recorded since 2002. In of the Emperor. In general, there was greater demand for
Argentina, shrimp catches in 2019 were estimated to be at processed shrimp, while demand for raw shell-on shrimp
210 000 tonnes, or about 15% lower than in 2018. weakened.
Exports Overall, imports during the first nine months of 2019
remained the same as 2018 at 154 280 tonnes, of which
During the third quarter of 2019, the seasonal surge of 31% or 46 645 tonnes were value-added products such as
farmed shrimp and strong imports into China helped maintain tempura shrimp, sushi and cooked shrimp. With a 43% share
positive export curves in many shrimp producing countries. in imports, Vietnam was the top exporter of value-added
Ecuador remained the top shrimp exporter with strong shrimp, followed by Thailand, Indonesia and China.
growth (+28.8%), followed by India where the growth rate During the review period, imports of raw shell-on and raw
was marginal. In contrast, Vietnamese shrimp exports (of peeled shrimp declined to 106 260 tonnes, in comparison
which 30-40% consisted of processed shrimp) increased with 108 070 tonnes imported during the corresponding
significantly during the first nine months of the year. In period in 2018.

INFOFISH International 3/2020 ● www.infofish.org