These companies, virtually all of whom are members of the American Shrimp Processors Association, have received over $111 million in Byrd Amendment payments from the
What is striking is that in their filing, they claim that the total gross profit for the industry for the last three years has averaged around 38 million per year - or 114 million total. The Byrd payouts have been equal to virtually the entire profits of the industry over the past three years.
Furthermore, they allege that due to the injury from lower priced imported shrimp, they have lost money in 2012.
The relevant table from their filing is below.
Page 1-45 in COGSI petition filed with Dept. of Commerce. Jump in Admin expenses highlighted in red
Through the 3rd quarter of 2012, they claim the industry's gross operating income is -7.5 million. But what jumped out at me was the staggering $10 million increase in the 'selling general and admin expense' line just above. The entire projected loss was due to a 40% jump in sales and admin, according to their filing.
Industry scuttlebutt, which has not been confirmed by any individual company, is that the members of the coalition were being asked to pay $200 to 300K to support the countervailing duty suit. It is uncannily coincidental that the jump in admin expenses of $10 million is so close to the amount raised if 30 companies had each put in $300 K - i.e. that would be a $9 million jump in admin expenses.
Now there is nothing factual here - there is no indication as to how the funds were raised, and what proportion has been paid into a legal account. But the $10 million jump in admin expense, coupled with a $7.5 million claimed loss, is a red flag.
Without that jump in administrative expense, the industry would have been profitable through the 3rd quarter of 2012, compared to the 3rd quarter (cumulative) of 2011.
The entire argument is one of injury - that the domestic shrimp processors lost money in 2012 because of a fall in shrimp prices caused by decline in the price of imported shrimp. Yet, the proximate cause was an unexplained jump in administrative expenses of $10 million, or 40% year over year.
Increases in administrative expenses are not due to the actions of foreign exporters - regardless of the merits of an argument over subsidies.
The argument for injury would be much stronger if the other factors such as administrative and sales expenses had remained more constant and consistent, as they had during the three prior years.
We address these issues in our video, and suggest that there is a better course the industry could have followed, such as putting a fraction of the $111 million they received from the government into marketing their products and raising the value, and distinctiveness of domestic shrimp.
Farmed shrimp is here to stay. It will always supply 80% to 90% of the
There are many similarities to the situation faced by the Alaskan salmon industry in the early 1990's. The explosion of farmed salmon totally turned their market upside down. They did not go to the government for a handout, but spent money marketing their product and establishing a differentiation between wild and farmed salmon.
Today despite low farmed salmon prices, canned Alaskan salmon is trading at some of the highest prices ever, and wild salmon at retail consistently gets a large premium over farmed salmon.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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