Low and stable shrimp prices fueling demand in EU and Japan
Staff Writer |
Although shrimp supplies remained stable during the first half of 2016, shrimp farmers in most of the producing countries in Asia have been struggling during the main farming season July–September.
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These include poor weather conditions, disease problems, unattractive prices and slow demand in the U.S. market. Production did increase in Thailand however, reports FAO GLOBEFISH.
Global ranking of shrimp exporters during the first half of 2016 remained the same as that in 2015 with Ecuador, India, Thailand, Indonesia and China as the top five exporters.
The leading two exporters, Ecuador and India, increased exports by 7.6 percent and 10.8 percent to total 180 000 and 179 000 tonnes respectively. For Ecuador, the top three export destinations during the reporting period were Vietnam (80 000 tonnes), the EU (44 000 tonnes) and the USA (35 000 tonnes).
Coming out from disease issues, Thailand regained its market share and ranked third in global shrimp exports. Supplies increased by 33 percent during January–June 2016 against the same period last year to 94 000 tonnes.
Its main markets in volume exports were the USA, Japan, Viet Nam, Hong Kong SAR and Canada.
Indonesia followed Thailand in exports, with volumes reaching 80 000 tonnes (+7 percent) during January–May of this year. Its top five markets were the USA, Japan, the EU, Malaysia and Viet Nam. Exports may have crossed 90 000 tonnes during the first half of the year.
China had a 2.3 percent rise in shrimp exports to come to 82 000 tonnes during the reporting period. Exports increased to the USA, Republic of Korea, Hong Kong SAR and Taiwan Province of China but declined marginally to Japan.
Compared with last year, 2016 cumulative imports during the January–June period in the USA, the single largest shrimp market, declined by 1.2 percent but increased in Japan (+7 percent), the EU (+17.8 percent), Russian Federation, (+44 percent), Australia (+4 percent) and South Africa (+15 percent).
Shrimp imports also increased in East Asia and the Near East markets, largely supplied by Asia as well as Ecuador.
Demand and price structures observed in the international shrimp market during the first quarter of the year persisted through June. ■
Under an intense surge of arctic air, Friday morning will begin with the coldest temperatures so far this season across much of the central and eastern U.S. with blustery conditions and a piercing wind chill.