Thailand's shrimp exports set to surge

 

 

Thai shrimp shipments are expected to rise by at least 8% this year, spurred by the outbreak of infectious myonecrosis virus in shrimp farms in Indonesia and Brazil and a lower catch in the US due to an oil spill off Louisiana.

 

The export prospects of frozen shrimp are promising this year given higher purchase orders in the first quarter, said Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) president Panisuan Jamnarnwej.

 

In the first three months of this year, Thailand exported frozen shrimp worth US$587 million, a rise of 34% over the same period last year.

 

The virus, which stunts shrimp by lowering their appetite, is expected to cut Indonesia's production by about 20-30% from an estimated 250,000 tonnes a year, about 160,000 tonnes of which are for export, Panisuan said. Shrimp exports from Indonesia are expected to fall accordingly.

 

Brazil, which exports about 50,000 tonnes of farmed shrimp a year, faces the same problem.

 

He expects shipments to the US will rise, after US authorities banned Louisiana fishermen from catching shrimp following an oil spill off the coast. Thailand led exports to the US last year with 176,870 tonnes of shrimp products, compared with 90,000 from Indonesia.

 

Thailand's farmed shrimp are expected to total 570,000-580,000 tonnes this year, up from 540,000 last year. Exports should reach 350,000 tonnes, up 8%, with a value of THB70-80 billion.

 

But Panisuan said the industry remains concerned about the baht's continuing appreciation, as it will lower the export competitiveness of Thai shrimp and affect farmers' income.

 

The government is also being urged to closely monitor China, which recently set up an aquatic centre at Shanghai as a trade clearinghouse for aquatic products and vows to become the world's trading hub for such items in the future.

 

"Asean and China signed a free trade agreement this year, so we urge Thai authorities and the private sector to look for ways to expand our exports to China. Shanghai's trading centre for aquatic products may offer a new opportunity," he said.