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 …
