June 9, 2010
Honduran shrimp industry anticipates big returns
Shrimp entrepreneurs in southern Honduras are hoping to surpass the 2009 shellfish shipment, with earnings of US$200 million, after completing its first export to the European market.
Honduras exported shrimp to several Central American countries, specifically El Salvador, Europe, the US and nations around the world.
"We started the harvest which lasts almost two months, several companies began the process of exports and the goal is to sell more than 45 million pounds of shrimp on the international market," said executive director of the National Aquaculture Association of Honduras (ANDAH), Marco Polo Micheletti.
Meanwhile, Ricardo Gomez, general manager of the entity, predicts that this year the industry will grow by 5%, driven by the better prices within Europe and the US, its main markets.
For now, the partnership agreement signed between the EU and Central America has not exited shrimp farmers, as it is not yet in force.
