Ecuador hit an all-time high for April exports of shrimp this year, sending 254 million pounds of shrimp abroad during the month, up 3.1 percent compared to the 246 million pounds the country shipped in the same month of 2024.
The value of those exports hit USD 606 million (EUR 530 million), jumping 12.5 percent when compared to the USD 539 million (EUR 471 million) sent abroad in April 2024, according to figures from Ecuador’s National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA).
China continued to be the top export destination for Ecuadorian shrimp, taking up 46 percent of Ecuador’s shrimp exports in April. However, that market share was down significantly when compared to the 55.8 percent of exports China bought in the same month of 2024. In April 2025, China received 117 million pounds of Ecuadorian shrimp worth USD 244 million (EUR 213 million), falling 14.9 percent year over year by volume and 12.3 percent by value.
Helping to fill the gap, Europe purchased 25.4 percent of Ecuador’s shrimp exports in April, compared to 19.3 percent from the same month a year prior. Shipments to Europe by volume surged 35.9 percent to 64.5 million pounds in April of this year, compared to the 47.5 million pounds received in the same month of 2024, while shipments by value reached USD 161 million (EUR 141 million), marking an increase of 54 percent.
The U.S. also increased its market share, receiving 18.4 percent of all of Ecuador’s shrimp exports in April, compared to 16.5 percent in April 2024. It received 47.3 million pounds in April of this year versus 40.5 million pounds the year prior – an increase of 16.7 percent. By value, shipments to the U.S. reached USD 137 million (EUR 120 million), which was up 28.6 percent year over year.
To date this year, Ecuador’s farmed shrimp exports have increased significantly, but this is expected to level off a bit as the year advances and they have to compete with historic months from last year by comparison, according to Global Shrimp Council Co-Founder and Gluna Shrimp CEO Gabriel Luna.
The April numbers are “a historic milestone … but does it signal a trend that will carry through the rest of 2025?” Luna said. “This is the highest April we’ve seen in history, and this has been a year of high exports. But, this 3 percent [year-over-year increase in April] lowers the accumulated amount we’ve had as a percentage. In January, we had 14 percent [growth year over year], and from there we had 22 percent and 23 percent in February and March [respectively]. The average was 20 percent to 21 percent accumulated, but having 3 percent in April, that cumulative 21 percent has been reduced to a cumulative 15 percent. As I have said before, when the months come that were high in 2024, our average growth rate will decrease.”
Despite the record exports during some months in 2024, Ecuador closed the year with a slight drop in export volume, which CNA Executive President José Antonio Camposano said were signs of slowing down due to the saturation of key markets, logistical problems, and fluctuations in global demand.
Still, Camposano previously told SeafoodSource that he is optimistic on growth for 2025, projecting expansion between 3 percent and 4 percent, which he said will be driven by the penetration of traditional markets, diversification, the adoption of new technologies, strengthening the global brand under the “Ecuador First Class Shrimp” campaign, and increasing the supply of processed products.
Nevertheless, there are ongoing obstacles that the industry will have to continue to address, such as fluctuating prices and U.S. politicians calling for antidumping and countervailing duties on seafood from countries including Ecuador. Domestically, the industry is facing such issues as a fragile national electric system leading to power outages, as well as unprecedented crime waves, both of which are affecting the aquaculture sector.
