June shrimp exports to US slide, cloud economic outlook

In terms of volume, US shrimp imports rose 16% on-year for June 2017 on the back of major increases coming from India and China as imports from Vietnam, Indonesia, Ecuador, and Thailand slid.

According to recently released figures from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the US imported 53,394 metric tons of shrimp for the month, 7,207 metric tons higher than the 46,187 metric tons logged for June 2016.

In terms of value, the month’s imports surged 23% year-on-year to US$513.5 million.

For the first half of 2017, imports – including all shrimp species product forms such as value-added products like breaded shrimp – totalled 286,769 metric tons valued at US$2.75 billion.

That marks a 9% increase by volume and 15% rise in value over the same six-month period in 2016.

Prices are on the uptick as well. In June 2017, the average price of imported shrimp was US$9.61 per kilogram. In June 2016 that same kilo cost just US$9.06.

By volume, seven countries made up more than 90% of US shrimp imports during the first six months of 2017. They are India (30%), Indonesia (20%), Ecuador (13%), Thailand (10%), Vietnam (8%), China (7%) and Mexico (3%).

During the first six months of 2016, Indonesia had the largest market share (22%), followed by India (20%), Ecuador (14%), Thailand (13%), Vietnam (10%), China (6%) and Mexico (4%).