November 16, 2007

P. vannamei gains global market advantage over black tiger shrimp

Main black tiger shrimp exporters India and Bangladesh are now struggling to seize a significant chunk of the global shrimp market with the tough competition posed by the cheaper penaeus vannamei (white shrimp).

Total retail market in the US has been completely captured by vannamei due to its lower price, according to exporters.

P Brahmanandam, chairman of India's seafood exporter Devi said the competition from vannamei is becoming a serious problem as demand for black tiger shrimp is drastically falling in restaurant chains. The decline in demand for black tiger shrimp is also being felt in other major markets like Japan and EU, he said.

With the shrimp diseases affecting the black tiger farms, the survival rate in most of the farms is around 40 percent. World price for this variety is also 15 percent more expensive than vannamei.

On the other hand, the survival rate of vannamei, which is being extensively farmed in countries like China, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, is close to 95 to 98 percent. Thailand has been growing vannamei without any major disease problem for the last 4 to 5 years with the broodstock coming from Hawaii.

Brahmandam added the vannamei has a higher body weight which could command a better price than tiger shrimp.

Brahmanandam appeals to the government to allow farming of vannamei or otherwise lose important markets.