Ecuador’s shrimp exports to the United States in June 2021 were close in volume to those of India, which has dominated the market for the past five years.
Ecuador has drastically upped its volumes sent to the U.S. as it has sought a strategy of diversification in order to become less dependent on the Chinese market, which has suffered from bottlenecking of seafood imports due to a heightened customs inspection regime related to concerns over COVID-19.
In June, Ecuador shipped 49.7 million pounds, or 22,548 metric tons (MT) of shrimp to the United States, while India sent 56.2 million pounds (25,509 MT). The two countries’ totals were up 109.8 percent and 115.8 percent, respectively, over their June 2020 figures, which were harmed by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.
Through June 2021, Ecuador has exported 199 million pounds (90,270 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in 2021, while it sent just 106.8 million pounds (48,456 MT) through the same time-period in 2020. Through the entirety of last year, Ecuador sent 277.4 million pounds (125,818 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. meaning the South American nation is on pace to smash its highest-ever U.S. shrimp export total this year.
India, with 315.6 million pounds (143,143 MT) of shrimp exported to the U.S. thus far in 2021, is also on track to surpass its 2020 U.S. export total of 599.3 million pounds (271,831 MT). By comparison, the South Asian country had exported 246 million pounds (111,604 MT) of shrimp between January and June 2020 before hitting a second-half surge through the 2020 holiday season.
Indonesia, the third-largest shrimp exporter to the U.S. by volume, saw its June 2021 total decline slightly year-over-year to 30 million pounds (13,602 MT). It had shipped 31.4 million pounds (14,255 MT) in June 202, making it the top shrimp supplier to the U.S. for a brief period
Vietnam boosted its U.S. shrimp exports to 16.4 million pounds (7,452 MT), up from 12.3 million pounds (6,151 MT) in May 2021 and from 10.7 million pounds (4,864 MT) in June 2020.
Thailand’s total dropped to 5.4 million pounds (2,465 MT) in Jun 2021, down from 5.8 million pounds (2,878 MT) in May 2021 and 7.5 million pounds (3,422 MT) in June 2020.
The only other nation to record more than 1,000 MT of exports to the U.S. was Argentina, which sent 2.8 million pounds (1,290 MT) in June 2021.
Photo courtesy of CGN089/Shutterstock
