July 13, 2023
India, Ecuador, and Indonesia lead shrimp exports to the US
India, Ecuador, and Indonesia maintain their status as the top three shrimp exporters to the US, according to the latest report from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) covering May 2023, SeafoodSource reported.
India's shrimp exports to the US totaled 47 million pounds (21,767 metric tonnes) in May 2023, a decrease from the 54 million pounds (24,787 metric tonnes) exported in May 2022. The year-to-date total shows a decline of nearly 15,000 metric tonnes compared to the previous year.
Ecuador exported 36 million pounds (16,590 metric tonnes) of shrimp to the US in May 2023, down from the 40 million pounds (18,070 metric tonnes) exported in May 2022. However, Ecuador's year-to-date exports are only slightly lower than its 2022 figures.
Indonesia sent 30 million pounds (13,793 metric tonnes) of shrimp to the US in May 2023, experiencing a decline from the 36 million pounds (16,644 metric tonnes) exported in May 2022. Indonesia's year-to-date exports have dropped by over 20,000 metric tonnes, and given that the US represents 68% of its total shrimp exports, this decline has been significant.
Indonesian exporters have shown resilience by adapting to find alternative markets for their products, as noted by Shrimp Insights Founder Willem van der Pijl.
Among the top 10 shrimp exporters to the US in May 2023, Vietnam secured the fourth position with 10 million pounds (4,645 metric tonnes), followed by Thailand in fifth place with 3 million pounds (1,697 metric tonnes). Argentina ranked sixth, exporting 2.9 million pounds (1,321 metric tonnes), while Mexico took seventh place, sending 2 million pounds (973 metric tonnes). China, Canada, and Saudi Arabia completed the list with varying shipment volumes.
The US imported a total of 137 million pounds (62,263 metric tonnes) of shrimp in May 2023, marking a decrease from the 165 million pounds (74,915 metric tonnes) imported in May 2022. Year-to-date, US shrimp imports have dropped by approximately 20%, equating to nearly 64,000 metric tonnes compared to the same period in 2022.
- SeafoodSource
