U.S. shrimp imports dropped slightly year over year in October 2024 and then rose marginally in November, according to NOAA, contributing to lower import totals overall for the 11-month period as a whole.
In October 2024, shrimp imports dropped from 2023's total of 167.96 million pounds, or 76,187 metric tons (MT), to 164.34 million pounds (74,544 MT), a 2.16 percent decrease year over year.
India remained the nation’s top importer in October, sending 67.15 million pounds (30,457 MT) in 2024, a 1.96 percent increase from the 65.83 million pounds (29,860 MT) sent in October 2023.
Ecuador took second place, exporting 31.93 million pounds (14,482 MT), a 26.61 percent decline from the 40.42 million pounds (18,335 MT) sent in October 2023.
Indonesia came in third, shipping 28.99 million pounds (13,140 MT), a 1 percent increase from October 2023, when it imported 28.7 million pounds (13,009 MT) to the U.S.
Vietnam saw big gains, bringing in 18.44 million pounds (8,363 MT) in October 2023, a 19.86 percent year-over-year increase from 14.78 million pounds (6,702 MT), while Thailand shipped 7.99 million pounds (3,613 MT), a 10.21 percent decline from October 2023, when it exported 8.78 million pounds (3,982 MT).
Mexico shipped 3.74 million pounds (1,698 MT) in October 2024, an 11.13 percent increase from the 3.33 million pounds (1,509 MT) it sent in October 2023 and a 50.71 percent increase from September 2024, when it only shipped 1.85 million pounds (837 MT).
Argentina saw a 37.76 year-over-year decline in shrimp exports in October 2024, sending 2.26 million pounds (1,025 MT), as opposed to 3.11 million pounds (1,412 MT) in October 2023.
No other nation exported more than 2.2 million pounds (1,000 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in October.
Though some major exporters saw declines in their numbers month over month from October 2024 to November, total U.S. imports rose 1.24 percent year over year during the month – from 155.82 million pounds (70,680 MT) to 157.75 million pounds (71,557 MT).
India was the largest total exporter again in November, shipping 59.72 million pounds (27,087 MT), which marks a year-over-year decline of 3.74 million pounds (1,870 MT) from November 2023, when it sent 61.95 million pounds (28,099 MT).
Indonesia replaced Ecuador in second place, exporting 32.2 million pounds (14,607 MT) in November 2024, a 10.6 percent increase from 2023's total of 28.8 million pounds (13,059 MT).
Ecuador exported 29.59 million pounds (13,374 MT) in November 2024, a 16.91 percent decline from November 2023, when it sent 34.5 million pounds (15,636 MT).
Mexico shipped 4.31 million pounds (1,957 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., a 4.34 percent drop from the 4.50 million pounds (2,042 MT) sent in the same month the previous year.
Argentina sent 3.06 million pounds (1,387 MT) in November 2024, a slight 3.75 percent year-over-year increase from 2.94 million pounds (1,335 MT).
Total import numbers between January and November dropped year over year in 2024, with the U.S. importing 1.59 billion pounds (720,668 MT) of shrimp by November 2023 and 1.53 billion pounds (694,086 MT) by November 2024, a 3.71 percent decline.
