The Global Aquaculture Alliance expects shrimp production within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and Indonesia to continue to grow through 2010.
GAA President George Chamberlain told Asia Pulse at Indonesia Aquaculture 2008 on Wednesday that global shrimp production, which is dominated by Asia, would increase by an average of 6 percent between 2007 and 2010.
The ASEAN countries with the highest growth rate of shrimp production are Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam, said Chamberlain. "Indonesia will still serve as the second largest shrimp exporter after Thailand with a volume of about 80 thousand and 100 thousand tons to the United States," he said.
However, Chamberlain expects shrimp prices worldwide to fall as the global economic crisis dampens demand.
Iwan Sutanto, chairman of Shrimp Club Indonesia, said Indonesian seafood executives are still optimistic about the future. "The government should, among others, intensively launch shrimp promotions in the world. It should explain to the world that Indonesia's shrimp products are environment-friendly and no longer contain antibiotics," said Sutanto.
"In order to create a competitive edge the government needs to lower the price of diesel oil or provide diesel subsidy for shrimp farmers," added Sutanto.
