August 12, 2010

US shrimp imports rebound in June

After dropping in 10 of the last 11 months, US shrimp imports increased in June, to just over 100 million pounds, up about 6 million pounds from June 2009, according to figures by National Marine Fisheries Service.

However, through first half of 2010, US shrimp imports were still down 2.9%, to just over 500 million pounds, from the same six-month period last year. In 2009, shrimp imports totalled 1.21 billion pounds.

Indonesia, last year's No. 2 shrimp supplier to the US, showed signs of improvement. In May, US shrimp imports from Indonesia were down 32.9%; but in June, they were down only 5.1%, to 11.9 million pounds. Through the first half of 2010, they were still down 26.7%, to 64.9 million pounds.

Indonesian farmers continue to battle the infectious myonecrosis virus, which, according to traders, has affected more than half of the country's shrimp-growing area.

As for last year's No. 1 shrimp supplier to the US, Thailand, shrimp imports from the US totalled 34.5 million pounds in June, up 2.5% from June 2009. Through the first half of 2010, they were up 11.2%, to 176.6 million pounds.

US shrimp imports from Ecuador and China were also up more than 7% each through the first six months of 2010, totalling 78.8 million pounds and 40.9 million pounds, respectively.

They were followed by Vietnam at 30.6 million pounds (down 1.7%), Mexico at 23.2 million pounds (down 14.9%), India at 15.9 million pounds (down 15.2%) and Malaysia at 20 million pounds (up 22.9%).