(vasep.com.vn) In 2013, Thailand’s shrimp sector suffered a severe loss by Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) outbreak. This led to a drastic fall in its shrimp output and export. Although EMS has been controlled in Thailand in 2014, its shrimp sector still needs several years to have a full recovery.
Deep dive in shrimp exports
According to International Trade Center (ITC), through February 2014, Thailand’s shrimp exports to markets continued a year-on-year sharp decrease in both volume and value. In the period, shrimp exports reached 19,150 MT, down 49.1 percent against the same period of 2013 (37,592 MT). In term of export turnover, shrimp sales hit US$244.4 million, down 30.2 percent from US$350 million of the same period of last year.
In the first 2 months of this year, the U.S. is still the largest importer of Thailand shrimp (occupying 40 percent of the country’s total shrimp exports). However, shrimp exports from Thailand to the market downed 37 percent in volume and 9.5 percent in value on those of a year ago. Besides, shrimp exports to other main markets (Japan, the U.K, Canada, Australia) also reported the downfall in the period.
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Thailand’s shrimp exports to main markets, Jan-Feb 2013/2014
(Source: ITC)
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|
Markets
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Volume (kg)
|
Variation (%)
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Value (thousand $US)
|
Variation (%)
|
|
Jan-Feb 2013
|
Jan-Feb 2014
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2014 vs. 2013
|
Jan-Feb 2013
|
Jan-Feb 2014
|
2014 vs. 2013
|
|
Total
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37,592,568
|
19,150,333
|
-49.1
|
244,459
|
350,449
|
-30.2
|
|
The U.S.
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12,960,638
|
8,158,933
|
-37.0
|
108,260
|
119,617
|
-9.5
|
|
Japan
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10,759,059
|
5,702,323
|
-47.0
|
67,266
|
106,622
|
-36.9
|
|
The U.K
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2,323,328
|
986,432
|
-57.5
|
16,280
|
23,364
|
-30.3
|
|
Canada
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2,134,696
|
754,204
|
-64.7
|
10,214
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20,683
|
-50.6
|
|
Australia
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1,054,378
|
704,799
|
-33.2
|
8,375
|
9,992
|
-16.2
|
|
South Korea
|
887,278
|
570,206
|
-35.7
|
7,586
|
7,248
|
4.7
|
|
Germany
|
1,242,271
|
435,289
|
-65.0
|
6,665
|
13,119
|
-49.2
|
|
Taiwan
|
627,543
|
273,377
|
-56.4
|
3,417
|
3,455
|
-1.1
|
|
Hong Kong, China
|
341,544
|
257,801
|
-24.5
|
2,533
|
4,956
|
-48.9
|
|
Vietnam
|
1,663,321
|
165,710
|
-90.0
|
1,765
|
11,007
|
-84.0
|
In 2013, Thailand’s shrimp exports reported the deepest dive in the last 5 years. Exports to markets, particularly the U.S, edged down. Last year, shrimp volume exported to the U.S. downed 39.8 percent to 77,887 MT from 129,362 MT reported in 2012 while export value fell 23.8 percent to US$881 million from US$1.14 billion of 2012.
Before suffering the heavy damage by EMS, Thailand kept holding the top shrimp supplier to the U.S. with the market share of 25 percent. However, in 2013, shrimp exports by Thailand to the U.S. faced many difficulties due to scarcity of domestic shrimp supply caused by EMS. Besides, the shrimp industry of Thailand has been accused of abusing labor and child labor by the U.S in shrimp sector. This was attributable to the decrease in Thailand’s shrimp sales to the market.
In 2013, India surpassed Thailand to claim the top position in supplying shrimp to the U.S. thanks to sharp increase in its whiteleg shrimp output. India expected to remain the top position in 2014.
Recovery in shrimp output after QII/2014
In 2012, raw shrimp supply in Thailand reached 540,000 MT. Due to EMS, Thailand’s shrimp production was badly affected and fell to touch 250,000 MT in 2013.
According to Thai Shrimp Association, the country’s shrimp production will recover in QII/2014. Accordingly, shrimp output is expected to rise 20 percent to 300,000 – 320,000 MT this year.