June 26, 2013

With production of 300,000 tonnes in 2011, Vietnam remains the leading producer of black tiger shrimp in the world, followed by India and Indonesia, with production of 187,900 tonnes and 126,200 tonnes, respectively.

China is the top producer of white-leg shrimp with a production of 1.32 million tonnes in 2011. Thailand and Ecuador ranked second and third, respectively. The shrimp production reached 511,000 tonnes in Thailand and 260,000 tonnes in Ecuador, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP). Lower production costs and higher yield along with an increasing popularity due to its cheaper price, are major factors that contribute to rising global production of white-leg shrimp in recent years.

Total shrimp production in China is made up by 95.6% (1,326 million tonnes) of white-leg shrimp and almost 5% (60,700 tonnes) is made up by black tiger shrimp. Thailand also produces mainly white-leg shrimp, accounting for 99.6% (511,000 tonnes) of total production, with 0.4% consisting of black tiger shrimp (two tonnes).

In the past few years, production of Indian white-leg shrimp increased due to the expansion of farming areas. In 2009, white-leg shrimp still accounted for a small proportion of the shrimp production structure of India. Two years after the government permitted the farming of white-leg shrimp on an industrial scale, the output of this species increased remarkably. FAO statistics show that in 2011, white-leg shrimp accounted for 39.4% (122,000 tonnes) of the total production, at 309,900 tonnes of cultivated shrimp in India.

India is encouraging farmers to produce white-leg shrimp. Last April, the country successfully developed specific pathogen-free brood stock for the first time.

The project was implemented by the Rajiv Gandhi Aquaculture Centre (RGCA) in collaboration with researchers from the Oceanic Institute, an affiliate of the Hawaii Pacific University, to meet the demand of good seed which was and still is the main factor obstructing P. vannamei production in the country.

White-leg shrimp production in Indonesia increased continuously since 2004 and is growing fast. In 2011, the country produced 246,000 tonnes and nearly the double volume of black tiger shrimp (126,000 tonnes). Indonesia now ranks fourth on white-leg shrimp production, behind China, Thailand and Ecuador.