After over a decade of suffering the effects of white spot disease, Ecuadoran exports of farmed Pacific white shrimp had its best year of production in 2012. The Ecuadoran Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) noted that the industry had learned from past mistakes and had incorporated new technologies to increase yields to 2,400 pounds per hectare, which the business association notes is higher than Ecuador's main Asian competitors. Thus, the country exported some 400 million pounds of shrimp worth USD 1.1 billion (EUR 856 million) in 2012.
While the local industry had also been suffering from a perceived glut in Asian production that continued to drive prices down in the first half of 2012, increased exports compensated for that trend. In addition, in the first quarter of this year there were signs that trend was reversing. The volume of vannamei exports in the first three months of this year decreased 0.96 percent to 103 million pounds, compared to the same period in 2012. Rising prices helped boost revenues by 18.32 percent, with an average price per pound of USD 2.50 (EUR 1.95).
The CNA affirmed that "depressed supplies due to sanitary problems in Asia has had a favorable impact on prices" and also noted that Asian imports of Ecuadoran shrimp have helped compensate for more traditional markets, which continue to flag. Thus, the shrimp farmers' trade association noted that exports to the United States were down close to 14 percent in the first quarter of this year, while Europe was down 3 percent. Specifically, Spain lost its spot as top market for Ecuadoran shrimp in Europe as consumption fell 28 percent, while France took its place at the top after increasing demand by 35 percent. In addition, the CNA noted that the Asian market had grown by 44 percent and currently represents 24 percent of Ecuadoran shrimp exports, up from just 7 percent only two years ago, and that it expects overall volumes for the year to fulfill expectations.
