US shrimp imports fall slightly in November

After tumbling 7.8% in October 2009, US shrimp import fell a mere 0.2% in November 2009, to 117.4 million pounds, compared to the same month in 2008.

However, according to figures by the National Marine Fisheries Service through November, US shrimp imports had surpassed the 1-billion-pound mark, at 1.1 billion pounds, down 3% from the same period in 2008. Through October, shrimp imports were down 3.3% from the same period in 2008, to 984.3 million pounds.

Among the top five suppliers to the US market, Vietnam saw its shrimp exports to the US drop considerably in November 2009, down 32% from November 2008.

Meanwhile, China and Ecuador increased their shrimp exports to the US considerably in November, up 18.4% and 19.9%, respectively, from November 2008.

Shrimp imports from Thailand, the top US supplier, were up 9.5% in November, while shrimp imports from Indonesia - which is experiencing production difficulties due largely to a white spot virus outbreak - jumped 7.9% in November after diving 39.5% in October.

The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reported this week that demand for shrimp in the US market is likely to remain stable until the economy rebounds.