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Amit Mitra

VISAKHAPATNAM, May 5

THE US seafood market, which is growing at a faster clip for Indian seafood products than any other overseas markets, including Japan, is eyeing for Indian scampi (fresh water prawns).

Although scampi culture is yet to pick up at the desired rate, the US market appears to have fallen for the quality of scampi being cultured in the coastal States in the South, especially Andhra Pradesh, where aqua farmers are switching over from shrimp to scampi culture.

Confirming this trend in the US market, Mr Robert S. Hooey, Executive Vice-President of Seattle-based Aquastar, which is the largest import of seafood in the US, told Business Line that Indian scampi had a bright future in the US market. ``Even till a couple of years ago it was an uphill task to push Indian shrimps in the US market, as the product did not have that brand image. But Indian scampi has made its mark in the market, although in terms of quantity its imports are yet to pick up,'' he said.

Aquastar, which imported about 2,000 containers of shrimp, each containing 44 tonnes of the seafood product, accounting for 15 per cent of the total US seafood imports last fiscal, pushed 400 tonnes of Indian shrimps in the US market through its elaborate retail network. ``This year we plan to widen our clientele base in the US by importing 400 tonnes of scampi, apart from another 400 tonnes of shrimps,'' Mr Hooey said.

Aquastar, which presently has a turnover of $320 million, is part of the Red Chamber Group, the leading importer of seafood in the US. About 60 per cent of India's seafood exports to US was purchased by Aquastar.

According to Mr Hooey, Indian scampi offered the opportunity for India to become a leader in international seafood trade, with the product already having made a mark in the US in terms of freshness, colour, hardshell and package.

On the US seafood market, Mr Hooey said there was a dip in consumption after the September 11 terrorist strike against the US. ``But after the Janurary and Feburary months this year, the market began to pick up. I think the worst is over and the market will improve in the months to come,'' he said.

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