March 17, 2014

Ecuador exported 20,000 tonnes of shrimp in January of this year, representing 29.7% rise compared to the same period of 2013, when 15,000 tonnes were exported, according to a report by the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE).

This increase was due to increased demand for Ecuadorian shrimp by France and the strengthening of new markets such as China and South Korea.

According to BCE, income from exports totalled US$186.1 million, 97.6% more than in 2013 (US$94.2 million).

President of the National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA) José Antonio Camposano believes this increase in sales was marked by an increase in shrimp prices worldwide, the newspapers reported.

The leader explained that some major shrimp exporting nations, such as Thailand and Indonesia, are being affected by the early mortality syndrome (EMS), which has considerably lifted shrimp prices.

According to statistics from the CNA, in January 2014 Ecuador exported 41.4 million pounds of shrimp for US$157.2 million while in January last year 31.1 million pounds had been sent abroad for US$81.9 million.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade also announced that in mid- December the full European Parliament (EP) had renewed the System of Preferences (GSP Plus) for several Ecuadorian products.

This decision will allow certain domestic fishery products, particularly the shrimp and tuna sectors, to be able to continue entering the EU market duty free until December 2014.

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