December 16, 2010

Thai 2010 shrimp output goes up 14% on-year

Thailand has produced up to 640,000 tonnes of shrimps this year, a 14% increase against 2009, said Thai shrimp association's president, Somsak Panitatthayasai, Wednesday (Dec 15).

Promising prospects are seen for Thai shrimps this year, with prices and produce having risen. Domestic consumption of locally-produced shrimps has reached 50,000-60,000 tonnes.

Panitatthayasai said that the price of Thai shrimps this year had also increased 20-25% on-year on average.

He projected that Thailand's total shrimp exports will stand at around 400,000 tonnes in 2010, worth about THB100 billion (US$3.32 billion).

The president of Thailand's shrimp association said he foresees the promising prospects of Thai shrimps, with stable prices, to continue through next year. He called on the government to control and screen imported shrimp breeders to prevent any outbreak of shrimp disease and to boost consumer confidence and domestic consumption of Thai shrimps.

Somsak acknowledged that global shrimp produce this year totalled some 2.3 million tonnes, a 6% on-year increase. Several shrimp producing countries have faced either floods or shrimp diseases – which have shored up overall shrimp prices on the world market.