Thailand to ban shrimp imports from Indonesia and Brazil

Thailand will prohibit shrimp imports from Brazil and Indonesia effective April 3 due to intense outbreaks of Infectious Myonecrosis (IMN) virus in the two countries, according to the Department of Fisheries.

Among the types banned are black-tiger, blue and white shrimps. The Office International des Epizooties (OIE) recently declared Brazil and Indonesia as IMN-virus shrimp-contaminated countries.

The IMN virus outbreak is expected to reduce Indonesian and Brazilian shrimp outputs by 40% and 70% respectively, according to the Export Promotion Department.

The Thai Shrimp Association said the situations in Indonesia and Brazil coupled with the unusually cold weather in China have spurred international demand for Thailand's shrimps by 1,000 tonnes/month. Shrimp export volume is expected to rise 10% this year from 390,000 tonnes a year ago, as compared to the previous target of zero growth for 2010.