US imports of Indian shrimp decline through August
US importers are also paying less for shrimp from Ecuador.
US importers are buying and paying less for shrimp from India, the top exporter to the United States.
Overall, US shrimp imports through August reached 426,345 metric tons worth $3.9 billion (€3.4 billion), a 4 percent increase in volume, but 2.7 percent decrease in value from this time last year, according to statistics released by the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS).
Imports of shell-on, frozen, warmwater shrimp, all sizes combined, reached 139,326 metric tons worth $1.2 billion (€1 billion), a 1.3 percent and 12 percent drop in volume and value, respectively, through August, year-on-year.
The United States imported 27,819 metric tons of 21/25 size shrimp worth $244.1 million (€211.9 million), a 1.7 percent gain in volume but a 10.5 percent decrease in value year-on-year. The 21/25 represents the largest percentage of US shrimp imports.
This size shrimp mostly came from India: 16,202 metric tons worth $131.7 million (€114.3 million), a nearly 1 percent decrease in volume an a 16.3 percent drop in value.
India, Ecuador losing out on value in US shrimp marketThe second most imported size, 31/40s, also saw declines, dropping 7.5 percent and 18.4 percent in volume and value, respectively, to reach 25,915 metric tons worth $193.2 million (€167.7 million) through August, according to the data.
Most 31/40 shell-on, frozen, warmwater shrimp imports came from Ecuador: 9,316 metric tons worth $65.4 million (€56.8 million), a 4.2 percent increase in volume but 10 percent decrease in value.
The United States imported 30,298 metric tons of breaded frozen shrimp worth $209.3 million (€181.7 million), a less than 1 percent increase in volume and 4 percent decrease in value.
