US monthly shrimp imports rise for first time in 2023

Monthly U.S. shrimp imports rose in July for the first time in 2023.

The United States imported a total of 69,356 MT, or 152 million pounds of shrimp in July 2023, up from 67,557 MT, or 149 million pounds, in July 2022.

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia remained the top three shrimp exporters to the U.S. India sent 26,641 metric tons (MT), or 58 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in July 2023, up from July 2022, when it exported 23,617 MT, or 52 million pounds, to the U.S. India has been the top exporter of shrimp to the U.S. for the past nine years.

Ecuador exported 18,573 MT, or 40 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in July 2023. Its monthly total was down from the 23,617 MT, or 52 million pounds, it sent in July 2022. 

Indonesia exported 11,404 MT or 25 million pounds of shrimp to the U.S. in July 2023, increasing from July 2022, where it exported 9,910 MT, or 21 million pounds, to the U.S.

Rounding out the top five shrimp exporters to the U.S. in July 2023 was Vietnam was with 6,767 MT, or 14 million pounds, down from its total in July 2023 of 7,292 MT or 16 million pounds; and Thailand, which shipped 2,479 MT, or 5.4 million pounds, down slightly from the 2,744 MT, or 6 million pounds, it shipped in July 2022.

Argentina was in sixth place, exporting 1,088 MT (2.3 million pounds),  much higher than its total in July 2022 of 992 MT (2.1 million pounds). Mexico came in seventh sending 588 MT, (1.2 million pounds), lower than its total in July 2022 of 1,248 MT (2.7 million pounds). Canada was in eighth, shipping 436 MT, (952,000 million pounds) which was higher than its July 2022 total of 227 MT (500,000 pounds). China was in ninth with 380 MT (837,000 pounds), lower than its July 2022 total of 499 MT (1.1 million pounds). Guyana, hit the top 10 by sending 199 MT (483,000 pounds), up from the 66 MT (145,000 pounds) it exported in July 2022 .

On 5 September, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that 44 seafood entry lines were refused in August to the U.S., with 11 refused due to the discovery they contained banned antibiotics.

Of those, one was a shipment of shrimp from Lianjang Xinyang Aquatic Products of China for shrimp contaminated with veterinary drug residues and unsafe additives, while a shrimp shipment from India’s Royale Marine Impex was detained due to the presence of salmonella.