US shrimp imports continue to trend lower in 2013 as production issues in Thailand have forced US buyers to compete with other overseas markets for imported product from other top supplying regions.
According to the US Department of Commerce March 2013 shrimp imports were down 5.3% versus year ago levels. Meanwhile, YTD US imports through March are 245.2 million lbs, down 8.3% from 2012 figures; a difference of about 22.3 million lbs.
Thailand—traditionally the top shrimp supplier to the US-- continues to struggle with production issues related to shrimp early mortality syndrome. The country’s shrimp imports to the US are down 21.5% through March 2013 totaling 52.4 million lbs—about 14.5 million lbs less compared to year ago figures.
However, the industry has reported a better understanding of the disease and Thai officials have said they are confident solutions will be put in place and production will return in the second half of the year although annual production is still likely to be lower than a year ago.
The Thai shortfall has resulted in a number of countries stepping up their shrimp production to fill tightening global supplies and US buyers have been forced to compete with overseas markets such as Asia for product.
US shrimp imports from Ecuador, Indonesia and India have trended higher in the wake of Thailand’s production issues, but so far in 2013 only India has recorded a year-over-year increase in shipments with YTD imports up 69.2% to 38.4 million lbs. Meanwhile, imports from Ecuador, at 38.8 million lbs., are down 8.3% YTD through March and Indonesian imports are down 10% year-over-year totaling 38.4 million through March 2013.
