The United States imported more than 150 million pounds (68,130 metric tons) of shrimp in July, with India the source of more than one-third of that total.
The figures represent big bumps for both countries, as the U.S. imported only 112.3 million pounds, or 50,944 metric tons (MT) in June, and just 88.4 million pounds, or 37,814 metric tons (MT), in May.
India accounted for 26.1 million pounds (11,821 MT) of shrimp imports into the U.S. in June 2020, and 19 million pounds (8,600 MT) in May. In July, it exported 53.2 million pounds, or 24,125 MT, which was still down slightly from its total of 55.8 million pounds (25,309 MT) in July 2019. Its year-to-date imprort total of 299 million pounds is down 3.8 percent from last year’s January-to-July tally of 310.7 million pounds.
Ecuador vaulted into the number-two position, exporting 31.3 million pounds (14,212 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in July. That’s up significantly from the 23.7 million pounds (10,750 MT) it sent to the U.S. in June and the from 17.2 million pounds (7,805 MT) it sent in July 2019.
Indonesia, which had boosted its shrimp exports to the U.S. to 31.4 million pounds (14,240 MT), in June, dropped behind Ecuador to third place on the list of largest U.S. shrimp-supplying nations, sending 26.9 million pounds (12,209 MT) in July 2020. It had exported 21.1 million pounds (9,550 MT) in July 2019.
Vietnam ranked fourth, exporting 14.3 million pounds (6,473 MT) in July, close to the 14.4 million pounds (6,522 MT) it exported to the U.S. a year prior.
Thailand was fifth with 8.6 million pounds (3,907 MT), up from 7.3 million pounds (3,288 MT) in July 2019.
Sixth was Mexico, bringing in 3.1 million pounds (1,391 MT), up from 2 million pounds (895 MT) in the same month a year ago.
In seventh place was China, hitting 2.9 million pounds (1,328 MT) of exports to the U.S., a 43.3 percent drop from its July 2019 total of 5.2 million pounds (2,344 MT). The drop is in line with previous months of 2020, which have shown a steady decline in China’s overall shrimp exports.
Argentina, Peru, and Venezuela rounded out the list of the top 10 shrimp-exporting nations to the United States.
Photo courtesy of Ton Wanniwat/Shutterstock
