August 28, 2023

Shrimp from Ecuador proves popularity in Chinese market

Ecuadorian shrimp is becoming one of the most popular imported seafood in the Chinese market, as witnessed at the 17th Shanghai International Fisheries Expo in China, SHINE reported.

Over the past decade, Ecuador has become China's largest supplier of shrimp. In 2022, China imported 818,429 tonnes of white shrimp, around 70% of which came from Ecuador. In 2022, Ecuador sold around 60% of its shrimp products to China, compared to about 49% in 2021.

"With only one product, shrimp, Ecuador has surpassed Russia to become the top seafood importer to China," said Jose Antonio Camposano, executive resident of the National Chamber of Aquaculture of Ecuador. "For Ecuador, the industry is not only about producing exceptional shrimp; it's also about building livelihoods and sustaining communities. With around 145,000 direct jobs and a staggering 290,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities, our industry becomes the cornerstone of over 1.3 million households in Ecuador."

According to Camposano, the white shrimp is an endemic specie of Ecuador that are naturally resistant, antibiotic-free and produced in the world's lowest density of seven to 15 per square meter.

"Ecuador is a very small country as the farms are very close to the processing facilities," he added. "The product is harvested and, within four or five hours, can be frozen packed and put into containers, so you're getting a very fresh bite.

"We are very good at maintaining the quality of the head, and the shrimp remains whole after cooking."

Thanks to the free trade agreement signed in May between China and Ecuador, the tariff on the shrimp has been reduced from 5% to 2%, and will be set at zero in 10 years.

The price will be more affordable in supermarkets and online retailers.

- SHINE