September 3, 2008

The US Department of Commerce has adjusted CPF's shrimp anti-dumping rate to 3.18 percent from 6.05 percent after its second annual review, while TUF has been issued a rate of 2.85 percent, down from 15.3 percent.

The new rates will be used as the new reference rate for current exports as of September 2008.

CPF president and CEO Adirek Sripratak said he expects shrimp exports to the US this year to grow to 40,000 tonnes, up from 34,000 tonnes last year.

Sripratak said shrimp exports to the US generally represent 20 percent of CPF's sales and that the US is the largest shrimp market, comprising 42-43 percent of sales. Japan, the EU, Australia and Canada, made up the remaining 57-58 percent.

TUF would receive US$2.6 million compensation as it earlier paid the tariff at the 5.95 percent rate that normally applies to Thailand's shrimp exports. TUF stated that it is now confident that its 2008 sales would hit US$2 billion.