India's shrimp exports to the US has been falling since the imposition of anti-dumping duties and cash bond policies, and this trend continues in the first quarter of 2008 with shipments reaching only 2,000 tonnes.

The first-quarter export amount is less than half of the 4,100 tonnes recorded in the same quarter in 2007.

Indian shrimp exports to the US has been falling for the last four years, from 15,200 tonnes in the first quarter of 2004 to 8,000 tonnes in 2005, then dropping to 7,300 tonnes in 2006 and it has now reached a new low of 2,000 tonnes in 2008, according to a report by the Seafood Export Journal.

Export value had also declined to US$27.1 million, compared to US$39 million in 2007, US$62.9 million in 2006, US$69.8 million in 2005 and US$124.6 million in 2004, all in the first quarter of said years.

There is a significant fall in customer confidence in the US but it is not affecting imports and shrimp consumption, the report said.

"Traditionally, shrimp is considered an upper-end product and economic crisis in the US has always resulted in lower shrimp consumption. However, some recent reports indicate that shrimp might be less affected by the present crisis than other food products," the report said.

Thailand is currently the top shrimp supplier for the US market, with a first-quarter shipment of 35,000 tonnes despite a 12-percent fall in value and quantity. Indonesia ranks number two, exporting 20,700 tones of shrimp to the US in the first quarter.

India ranks number eight in terms of value and volume of shrimp exports to the US.