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US shrimp imports estimated lower

Ch Prashanth Reddy

HYDERABAD, Nov. 26

DURING the first six months of the current year, the US shrimp imports totalled 291 million pounds, down three per cent from the same period in 1999 and five per cent in the first half of 1998.

Shipments in the second half of 2000 are also not expected to be strong as a year earlier, according to the Aquaculture Outlook of the Economic Research Service (ERS), US Department of Agriculture.

As per the ERS outlook, imports in 2000 are not expected to match the record 731 million pounds import in 1999. However, with the domestic economy continuing to stay in an expansion mode, imports are expected to be strong for the rest of this year. For 2 000, the US shrimp imports are forecast to reach between 690 million pounds and 700 million pounds worth $3-3.1 billion.

ERS said while the total volume of imported shrimp fell by three per cent, the value rose by six per cent to $1.288 billion. The decrease in volume was on account of lower imports of frozen shrimp, down by almost 20 million pounds. In contrast, imports o f fresh shrimp rose slightly, and those of prepared shrimp products were almost 12 million pounds higher.

Most of the decline in imports was due to smaller shipments from Mexico and Ecuador. Imports from these countries had dropped dramatically in the last two years. In the first half of 1998, shrimp imports from Mexico and Ecuador totalled almost 110 millio n pounds worth $483 million. By the first half of 2000, shipments had fallen to only 33 million pounds worth $169 million.

Smaller exports from Mexico and Ecuador were partially countered by higher shipments from various Asian countries. Imports from Thailand rose by 14 per cent to 101 million pounds. Similarly, shipments from China almost doubled to 15 million pounds. Shipm ents from India and Bangladesh also increased by about 12 per cent.

With declining production from the major western hemisphere shrimp suppliers, the report said prices for most shrimp products were expected to remain strong through the remainder of 2000 and into 2001. Average shrimp prices in 2000 might not be as strong as in 1998, but the prices were expected to be strong enough to offset any decline in quantity and yield a higher value.

As indicated in the report, shrimp prices in the US, which had declined by the end of October, had started rising. From $16.80 per kg (size 16/20) of shrimp on October 26, the prices declined to $15.40 per kg by November 6. They, however, rose to $16.06 per kg by November 15. Indian exporters feel that the prices will firm up further.

In the last two weeks, prices in the Indian market had also moved up from Rs 430 to Rs 450 per kg. According to Mr Sivakumar, Chief Executive of ITC International Business Division, the country's production this year is 20 per cent higher than that of l ast year. His company has already exported Rs 70 crore worth of shrimps and is likely to export more than Rs 100 crore worth by the end of the current fiscal.