NOAA's U.S. shrimp import totals for 2024 are in, painting a picture of an overall strong industry experiencing minor constriction in growth.
Shrimp imports were down in 2024 compared to 2023, with 1.67 billion pounds (760,531 metric tons) entering the country in 2024, versus 1.73 billion pounds in 2023 (785,836 MT) a year prior – a 3.27 percent decline.
Most major exporters to the U.S. saw minor declines in their import numbers, with the exception of Bangadesh, which saw a 69.84 percent decline year over year from 3.13 million pounds (1,418 MT) in 2023 to 1.51 million pounds (684 MT) in 2024. This drop comes after years of decline in the nation’s shrimp production.
India remained the nation’s top importer in December 2024 and for the year as a whole. The nation exported 52.28 million pounds (23,714 MT) in December, up from 50.39 million pounds (22,842 MT) in the same month a year prior. In the course of the calendar year, however, India saw a slight 0.6 percent decline, dropping from 652.41 million pounds (296,104 MT) between January and December 2023 to 648.62 million pounds (294,318 MT) in the same period of 2024.
Ecuador took second place in both December and yearly imports, though it experienced a much bigger decline than India. In December 2024, for instance, the nation exported 36.69 million pounds (16,419 MT), a 6.16 percent decline from the previous year. Between January and December 2024, Ecuador saw a 9.61 percent decline year over year, from 454.65 million pounds (205,915 MT) in 2023 to 412.46 million pounds (187,040 MT) in 2024.
Indonesia came in third, shipping 28.04 million pounds (12,717 MT) to the U.S. in December 2024, a 3.14 percent decline from the previous year, when the nation shipped 28.92 million pounds (13,123 MT). For the year overall, Indonesia’s exports destined for the U.S. dropped from 322.87 million pounds (146,259 MT) to 296.22 million pounds (134,802 MT), an 8.61 percent decline.
Vietnam saw a big boost in exports to the U.S. in December 2024, with 12.69 million pounds (5,759 MT) shipped, a 17.24 percent increase from 10.65 million pounds (4,825 MT) in December 2023. Overall, the country increased its yearly exports from 133.34 million pounds (60,476 MT) to 150.99 million pounds (68,407 MT), a 12.34 percent increase.
Thailand saw growth year over year in December, too, spiking from 4.67 million pounds (2,113 MT) to 6.74 million pounds (3,061 MT), a 36.64 percent increase. Over the course of the year, however, the nation saw a 3.4 percent decline in its shrimp exports to the U.S., from 61.35 million pounds (27,826 MT) to 59.29 million pounds (26,895 MT).
Mexico’s numbers dropped year over year in December and for the year overall. The country brought in 3.34 million pounds (1,517 MT) in December 2024, as opposed to 3.72 million pounds (1,687 MT) the previous year, a 10.61 percent decline. Over the course of the year, however, Mexico saw an even more significant decline, from 34.50 million pounds (15,639MT) in 2023 to 30.58 million pounds (13,867 MT) in 2024, a 12.01 percent decline.
Argentina saw a 14.08 percent year-over-year increase in shrimp exports in December 2024, sending 2.93 million pounds (1,330 MT), as opposed to 2.55 million pounds (1,155 MT) in December 2023. For the year overall, Argentina saw a 2.82 increase in its exports to the U.S., from 31.50 million pounds (14,300) in 2023, to 32.42 million pounds (14,709) in 2024.
No other nation exported more than 2.2 million pounds (1,000 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in December.
In September 2024, experts predicted that the import market’s overall downturn was likely to continue into 2025, with Ecuador’s slowed growth accounting for much of the change.
U.S. Congressman Clay Higgins (R-Louisiana) and industry advocacy group the Southern Shrimp Alliance have both recently urged U.S. President Trump to consider imposing tariffs on foreign shrimp imports.
