Ecuadorian shrimp exports to China climbed sharply for the second consecutive month in October, underpinning hopes that orders lost to the fallout from the coronavirus pandemic are returning sooner than expected.

Exports rose 57 percent to 74.7 million pounds, just falling short of the 75.9 million pounds exported to China in October last year.

The rise comes on the heels of a 66 month over month increase in September.

Even so, this latest rise is still well short of the record 116 million pounds of shrimp Ecuadorian producers shipped to China in May.

Exports of Ecuadorian shrimp to China suffered a massive slump beginning in July, after a series of discoveries of COVID-19 on outer packaging containing their products, leading to fears that a recovery in shipments to China could be years away.

The country's shrimp producers insist any discoveries of COVID-19 must have come from contact with external sources as they pass through a long chain of custody en-route to their final destination.

In mid-August China lifted a suspension on the importation of shrimp from Ecuadorian exporter Empacadora del Pacifico (EdPacif), after lifting similar suspensions on Ecuador's largest shrimp exporter Santa Priscila and Empacreci days earlier.

Dialogue between Chinese and Ecuadorian officials resulted in the two countries signing a protocol agreement in August aimed at smoothing the import of Ecuadorian shrimp to the Asian nation.

Globally the South American nation's shrimp exports reached their second highest ever total of 141.7 million pounds in October, while year to date shipments are 7 percent ahead of the same point in 2019, despite the COVID-19 crisis.

"The figures show that the Ecuadorian industry is quickly adapting to the market situation. China increased its demand in October and Ecuador met that demand," Jose Antonio Camposano, president of shrimp producers trade body the National Chamber of Aquaculture told IntraFish.

An uptick in demand from China does not compromise other markets, Camposono added.

"Supply is adapted to demand so that when orders are received from the USA and the EU, Ecuador will also meet them."

Shrimp

Ecuador shrimp exports continue Chinese market fightback