Thai shrimp exports to US now off 36%; India figures surge. The massive production declines in Thailand are beginning to show in US shrimp import figures.
Overall, shrimp imports into the country fell 7.8 percent in the first seven months of this year, to 264,167 metric tons, down from 286,479 metric tons in the same period of 2012. The value of those imports was relatively stable at $2.4 billion (€1.8 billion), just over 1 percent off.
In July alone, US importers brought in 40,342 metric tons of shrimp, worth $392.5 million (€294.3 million), compared with 46,653 metric tons last year, worth $382.5 million (€286.8 million) -- a 13 percent volume drop.
While most of the major producers showed relatively steady or slightly lower exports, Thai producers, facing the losses from early mortality syndrome (EMS), exported 46,575 metric tons of shrimp through July this year, worth $442.9 billion (€332.1 billion), compared to imports of 73,000 metric tons last year worth $664.4 million (€498.2 million).
The primary beneficiaries of the decline are Indian shrimp exporters. India exported 44,417 metric tons of shrimp into the US, worth $426.6 million (€319.9 million). That's a 69 percent volume jump over the same period in 2012, when Indian exporters shipped 26,330 metric tons of shrimp into the US in the first seven months of the year, worth $248.7 million (€186.5 million).
Ecuador exported 46,000 metric tons of shrimp into the US, worth $369.5 million (€277.1 million), down slightly from last year, when it shipped some 52,000 metric tons worth $357.4 million (€268 million).
Indonesian exports held relatively steady, with 42,446 metric tons shipped -- only slightly less than the same period last year. The value of those exports, worth $419.8 million (€314.8 million), were up by 5 percent.
China's exports into the US, meanwhile, reached 18,713 metric tons through July, worth $124.8 million (€93.6
million) -- nearly identical to volume and value exports this time last year.
Mexico, whose export figures to the United States are relatively low in general, showed a 31 percent drop in
shipments to the United States, though it's unclear if the decline is at all related to concerns the country is also battling EMS.
The country shipped 8,041 metric tons worth $97.7 million (€73.3 million) in the first seven months of the year.