Ecuador, Latin America’s leading shrimp producing nation, exported more than 362,000 metric tons (MT) of the crustaceans last year, 11 percent more than in 2015. In value terms, this trade was valued at almost USD 2.5 billion (EUR 2.3 billion), up 6.5 percent, with the average export price down 4 percent to USD 6.77 (EUR 6.28) per kg.
Vietnam was by far the No.1 market for Ecuadorian shrimp last year, with the trade amounting to 160,385 MT valued at more than USD 1 billion (EUR 927 million). These totals represented a 48 percent increase in volume and a 44 percent increase in value. The average price paid by Vietnamese importers fell by almost 3 percent to USD 6.55 (EUR 6.07) per kg.
The United States and Spain were Ecuador’s second and third most important markets, respectively.
U.S. imports of Ecuadorian shrimp fell 9.2 percent in volume to 70,074 MT with a 16.7 percent lower value of USD 470.7 million (EUR 436.4 million) compared with the previous year. The average price paid by U.S. importers last year was USD 6.72 (EUR 6.23) per kg, down 8.3 percent.
Spain, however, paid 2.6 percent more for its Ecuadorian shrimp in 2016 – averaging USD 6.84 (EUR 6.34) per kg. Spanish importers brought in 34,288 MT of shrimp from Ecuador with a value of USD 234.6 million (EUR 217.5 million), up 12.6 percent and 15.6 percent respectively.
Around 210,000 hectares was dedicated to shrimp farming in Ecuador last year with country focused on white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) production.
