The United States imported 15.8 percent more shrimp in November 2021 year-on-year, reflecting a more-robust marketplace despite supply-chain challenges and price increases.
The U.S. brought in 78,745 metric tons (MT), or 173.6 million pounds, of shrimp in November 2021, up from 67,180 MT, or 148.1 million pounds in November 2020. Through the first 11 months of 2021, the U.S. imported 805,601 MT, or 1.78 billion pounds, of shrimp – more than the 745,675 MT, or 1.64 billion pounds, it imported in all of 2020.
Export totals from all of the major U.S. suppliers rose in November 2021, in advance of the U.S. holiday season. Market leader India sent 65.6 million pounds (29,756 MT) in the month, up from 52.6 million pounds (23,853 MT) in November 2020. Second-place Indonesia shipped 32.5 million pounds (14,730 MT), up from 31 million pounds (14,037 MT) a year prior. Third-place Ecuador delivered 30.9 million pounds (14,025 MT), above the 19.6 million pounds (8,884 MT) it sent to the U.S. in November 2020.
Vietnam shipped the fourth-most amount of shrimp to the U.S. in November 2021, at 16.6 million pounds (7,514 MT), up from 15.5 million pounds (7,012 MT) in November 2020. Fifth-placed Thailand’s total also rose to 10.1 million pounds (4,580 MT) in the month from 9.5 million pounds (4,305 MT) in November 2020. Mexico reached 9.2 million pounds (4,174 MT) in U.S. shrimp exports in November 2021 following the lifting of an embargo in October; it had exported 8.3 million pounds (3,783 MT) in November 2020.
Of the top 10 shrimp suppliers to the U.S., only seventh-placed Argentina saw a monthly drop in November 2021 to 4.3 million pounds (1,928 MT), down from 5.4 million pounds (2,448 MT) in November 2020.
No other country exported more than a million pounds of shrimp (500 MT) to the U.S. in November 2021.
U.S. shrimp imports totaled 188 million pounds in (85,269 MT) in October 2021, up from 173.1 million pounds (78,507 MT) in October 2020.
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