After a shocking exit from its perch as America’s top shrimp supplier earlier in 2020, India has quickly reestablished former position of dominance.
In May, Indonesia took over the number-one spot from India as a COVID-19 national lockdown and market uncertainty amongst shrimp-farmers caused a drastic drop in the country’s production.
However, according to the latest figures from NOAA, India exported 64.3 million pounds, or 31,676 metric tons (MT), to the United States in August, up from 26.1 million pounds (11,821 MT) in June 2020, and 19 million pounds (8,600 MT) in May. In contrast, the August total for Ecuador, the current number-two exporter of shrimp to the United States, reached 33 million pounds (16,482 MT), just more than half of India’s total.
India’s resurgence comes as the United States continues to significantly ramp up its buying of imported shrimp. The U.S. imported more than 164.5 million pounds (68,130 MT) of shrimp in August, up from 150 million pounds (68,130 MT) in July, just 112.3 million pounds (50,944 MT) in June, and 88.4 million pounds (37,814 MT) in May.
Indonesia dropped to third place on the list of largest U.S. shrimp-supplying nations, sending 30.3 million pounds (15,149 MT) in August 2020. It sent 26.9 million pounds (12,209 MT) in July and 31.4 million pounds (14,240 MT), in June.
The monthly totals of India, Ecuador, and Indonesia were all up compared to their exports from the same month a year ago, with Ecuador more than doubling its total.
Vietnam, at 16 million pounds (7,995 MT), was fourth on the list of top shrimp suppliers to the U.S., while Thailand was fifth with 8.4 million pounds (4,203 MT).
Latin America also experienced a surge of exports to the U.S., as Mexico, with 3.5 million pounds (1,724 MT) was sixth on the list and Argentina, at 2.7 million pounds (1,337 MT), was seventh. Both countries posted higher year-over-year monthly totals.
Closing out the top 10 was China, with 2 million pounds (906 MT), Peru with 1.3 million pounds (588 MT), and Saudi Arabia with 1.25 million pounds (568 MT).
Photo courtesy of Aimee Lee Studios/Shutterstock
