US shrimp imports declined 23 percent in March 2023

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia held the top three shrimp exporters to the U.S. in March 2023.

India sent 41 million pounds, or 18,703 metric tons (MT), of shrimp to the U.S. in March 2023, down from March 2022, when it exported 23,270 MT, or 51 million pounds. India has held the spot as top shrimp exporter to the U.S. for the past nine years running.

Following India was Ecuador, which exported 38 million pounds (17,459 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in March 2023. Its monthly total is slightly less than the 40 million pounds (18,479 MT) it sent in March 2022. 

Indonesia sent 29 million pounds (13,602 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in March 2023, a drop from March 2022, when it exported 64 million pounds (29,066 MT).

Rounding out the top 10 shrimp exporters to the U.S. in March 2023, Vietnam was in fourth place with 6 million pounds (2,745 MT); Thailand was in fifth place, sending 3 million pounds (1,784 MT); Mexico was in sixth, exporting 3.5 million pounds (1,606 MT); Argentina in seventh, sending 3 million pounds (1,367 MT); Peru in eighth, shipping 500,000 pounds (227 MT); Bangladesh in ninth with 438,000 pounds (199 MT; and China, sending 434,000 pounds (197 MT).

Overall, the United States imported 129 million pounds (58,726 MT) of shrimp in March 2023, down from 168 million pounds (76,421) MT in March 2022. 

Photo courtesy of Nguyen Quang Ngoc Tonkin/Shutterstock