July 21, 2005

Indonesia now second largest shrimp exporter to the US

Indonesia is now the second largest supplier of shrimp to the US after a shrimp export surge of 23,610 tonnes in the first five months of 2005. This marks a 54.3 percent increase from the same period last year.

While Thailand remains the largest supplier of shrimp to the US, China exported only 18,200 tonnes of shrimp to the US in the first five months this year.

The shrimp export surge is despite US investigating Indonesian exporters for allegedly re-exporting Chinese shrimps. The US has recently placed anti-dumping surcharges on imports of shrimps from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil and Ecuador.

The Indonesian Shrimp Commission, however, pointed out that Indonesia has banned imports of shrimps from countries such as China after reported antibiotic contamination.

It also predicts that shrimp exports will increase further this year, with exports peaking as usual in September to December.

Gapindo, an Indonesian fishery association, also estimates that Indonesian exports to the US could hit 65,000 tonnes this year, a 38.4 percent increase from the 46,966 tonnes last year.