US shrimp import decline continued in January 2023

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia remained the top three shrimp exporters to the U.S. in the first month of 2023.

India sent 24,497 metric tons (MT), or 54 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in January 2023, down from January 2022, when it exported 29,518 MT, or 65 million pounds, to the U.S. India has been the top exporter of shrimp to the U.S. for the past nine years.

Following India was Ecuador, which exported 18,718 MT, or 41 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in January 2023. Its monthly total was up from the 14,856 MT, or 33 million pounds, it sent in January 2022. 

Indonesia sent 14,158 MT or 31 million pounds of shrimp to the U.S. in January 2023, a decrease from its total from January 2022, when it exported 16,034 MT, or 35 million pounds, to the U.S.

Rounding out the top 10 shrimp exporters to the U.S. in January 2023, Vietnam was in fourth place with 3,846 MT, or 8.5 million pounds; Thailand was in fifth place, sending 2,447 MT, or 5.4 million pounds; Mexico was in sixth, exporting 1,776 MT or 3.9 million pounds; Argentina in seventh, sending 1,092 MT, or 2.4 million pounds; China in eighth, shipping 622 MT, or 1.3 million pounds; Venezuela in ninth with 416 MT, or 920,000 pounds of U.S. exports; and Bangladesh, sending 240 MT or 530,000 pounds.

Overall, the United States imported 68,734 MT, or 150 million pounds of shrimp in January 2023, down from 78,356 MT, or 170 million pounds, in January 2022. In 2020, it imported a total of 64,902 or 140 million pounds, and in January 2019, it imported 54,109 MT, or 120 million pounds.

Photo courtesy of Santhosh Varghese/Shutterstock