US shrimp imports rise in March 2024, despite drop in Indonesian shipments

U.S. shrimp imports reached 139.5 million pounds, or 63,269 metric tons (MT), in March 2023, up from 129.5 million pounds (58,726 MT) in March 2022.

Statistics released by NOAA show India’s exports increased to 51.4 million pounds (23,312 MT), up from 41.2 million pounds (18,703 MT) in March 2023 but slightly below the 52 million pounds (23,777 MT) it shipped to the U.S. in February 2024.

Ecuador ramped up its U.S. exports to 48 million pounds (21,754 MT), up from 38.5 million pounds (17,459 MT) in March 2023 and the 37 million pounds it exported to the U.S. (16,911 MT) in February 2024.

India and Ecuador’s year-to-date U.S. export total are each running around 5,000 MT higher than their 2023 totals through March.

In contrast, Indonesia’s March 2023 U.S. shrimp exports plunged to 21 million pounds (9,516 MT), down from 30 million pounds (13,602 MT) in March 2023 and 22.1 million pounds (10,013 MT) in February 2024. Indonesia has now imported 7,000 MT less shrimp year-to-date in 2024 compared to its 2023 total through March.

Both India and Ecuador increased their U.S. exports month over month by 24 percent, but Vietnam actually bettered them both, hitting 39 percent monthly growth. Its U.S. shrimp exports reached 8.4 million pounds (3,815 MT) in March 2024, up from 6.1 million pounds (2,745 MT) in March 2023 and 7.8 million pounds (3,580 MT) in February 2024.

Like Indonesia, Thailand also experienced a 25 percent drop in its U.S. shrimp exports. Its total sunk to 2.9 million pounds (1,325 MT), down from 3.9 million pounds (1,784 MT) in March 2023, though it was up from the 2.6 million pounds (1,217 MT) it shipped in February 2024.

Mexico and Argentina also experienced drops of 25 percent or more in their U.S. shrimp exports in March 2024. Mexico’s 2.4 million pounds (1,095 MT) of U.S. shrimp exports was down from the 3.5 million pounds (1,606 MT) it sent in March 2023 and the 2.8 million pounds (1,290 MT) it shipped in February 2024. Argentina’s U.S. shipments declined to 2.1 million pounds (973 MT), down from 3 million pounds (1,367 MT) in March 2023 and 3 million pounds (1,367 MT) in February 2024.

No other exporting nation crested 200 MT in exports.

Year to date through March, the U.S. imported 401.7 million pounds (182,224 MT) of shrimp, up from 397.6 million pounds (180,351 MT) in the same time period in 2023. Between January and March 2022, the U.S. imported 486.8 million pounds (220,786) of shrimp, while in 2021, the total was 408.4 million pounds (185,252 MT) and in 2020, the total was 370.5 million pounds (168,111 MT).

U.S. shrimp imports may be impacted through the remainder of 2024 by an updated preliminary determination of countervailing duties issued by the U.S. Commerce Department in April. Ecuador, India, and Vietnam will each be impacted by the duties.