US shrimp imports continued to drop in February 2023

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia remained the top three shrimp exporters to the U.S. in February 2023 but numbers continue to decline.

India sent 19,566 metric tons (MT), or 43 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in February 2023, down from February 2022, when it exported 22,868 MT, or 50 million pounds. India has been the top exporter of shrimp to the U.S. for the past nine years.

Following India, Ecuador held on to the second spot exporting 15,382 MT, or 34 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in February 2023. Its monthly total was down from the 16,168 MT, or 35 million pounds, it sent in February 2022. 

Indonesia, coming in at number three, sent 10,419 MT, or 23 million pounds, of shrimp to the U.S. in February 2023. That's also a decrease from its total from February 2022, when it exported 14,176 MT, or 31 million pounds, to the U.S.

Rounding out the top 10 shrimp exporters to the U.S. in February 2023, Vietnam was in fourth place with 2,383 MT, or 5.2 million pounds; Mexico was in fifth place, sending 1,813 MT, or 4 million pounds; Thailand was in sixth, exporting 1,132 MT or 2.5 million pounds; Argentina in seventh, sending 647 MT, or 1.4 million million pounds; China in eighth, shipping 208 MT, or 458,000 pounds; Honduras in ninth with 203 MT, or 447,000 pounds; and Bangladesh in 10th, sending 198 MT, or 436,000 pounds.

Overall, the United States imported 52,889 MT, or 116 million pounds, of shrimp in February 2023, down from 66,091 MT, or 145 million pounds, in February 2022. Despite the drop, the total is still up compared to prior years: in 2020, the U.S. imported a total of 51,440 MT, or 113 million pounds, and in February 2019, it imported 42,857 MT, or 94 million pounds.

Photo courtesy of Bigc Studio/Shutterstock