US shrimp imports continued to rise in October 2023

U.S. shrimp imports remained steady in October 2023 after experiencing a decline earlier this year.

For the month, the U.S. imported a total of 167 million pounds, or 76,187 metric tons (MT), of shrimp – up from 152.5 million pounds (69,692 MT) imported in October 2022, and up from the 155.6 million pounds (70,587 MT) in September 2023.

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia continued to rank first, and second in the volume of shrimp they shipped to the U.S. in October. India sent 65.8 million pounds (29,860 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in October 2023, up from October 2022, when it exported 60 million pounds (27,435 MT), and up from September 2023, when it sent 63.9 million pounds (28,992 MT). India has continued to hold the spot as the largest U.S. shrimp supplier for the past nine years.

Ecuador exported the second-highest volume of shrimp to the U.S. at 40.4 million pounds (18,335 MT) in October 2023. Its monthly total was higher than the 34.2 million pounds (15,523 MT) it sent in October 2022, but slightly less than the 40.8 million pounds (18,504 MT) it exported in September 2023. 

Indonesia exported 28.6 million million pounds (13,009 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in October 2023, up from October 2022, when it exported 28.5 million pounds (12,952 MT). The total was up from the 21.1 million pounds (9,557 MT) of shrimp Indonesia exported to the U.S. in September 2023.

The other top shrimp exporter to the U.S. in October 2023 was Vietnam, which shipped 14.7 million pounds (6,702 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., up from 11 million pounds (5,020 MT) in October 2022, but down from the 15.4 million pounds (6,965 MT) it exported to the U.S. in September 2023.

Thailand shipped 8.7 million pounds (3,982 MT), up from the 7.4 million pounds (3,390 MT) it exported in October 2022, and more than the 6.3 million pounds (2,898 MT) it exported in September 2023.

Mexico sent 3.3 million pounds (1,509 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., lower than its total in October 2022 of 5.3 million pounds (2,421 MT), but higher than its total in September 2023 of 1.7 million pounds (753 MT). 

Argentina was seventh, exporting 3.1 million pounds (1,412 MT) to the U.S., a drop from its total in October 2022 of 3.4 million pounds (1,547 MT). In September 2023, Argentina sent 3.1 million pounds (1,430 MT) of shrimp to the U.S.

Saudi Arabia was eighth in the volume ranking, exporting 522,000 pounds (237 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., up from 348,000 pounds (158 MT) it exported in October 2022, and an increase from the 233,000 pounds (106 MT) it sent in September 2023.

China was ninth in the volume ranking, exporting 504,000 pounds (229 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., up from 299,000 pounds (136 MT) it exported in October 2022, and an increase from the 273,000 pounds (124 MT) it sent in September 2023.

Canada rounded the top 10, exporting 498,000 pounds (229 MT), which was more than the 319,000 pounds (145 MT) it exported in October 2022, and down from the 88,000 pounds 557,000 pounds (253 MT) it sent in September 2023.

On 7 December, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection reported USD 3,870  (EUR 3,596) in antidumping duties have been collected thus far in 2023, a drastic decline from the USD 339,684 (EUR 315,648) from the same period in 2022, and the USD 57,768 (EUR 53,678) collected in 2021. These funds are distributed annually under the Continued Dumping and Subsidy Offset Act (CDSOA).

Since 2006, more than USD 272 million (EUR 252.7 million) in antidumping duties have been distributed to the shrimp industry per the CDSOA. 

On 5 December, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released information on 29 seafood entry line refusals it conducted in November 2023, with an Indian and Thai shrimp exporter named for exporting shrimp containing banned antibiotic contaminants.

Calcutta Seafoods, based in Calcutta, India, received an import alert for one shipment on 1 July containing nitrofurans and veterinary drug residues, recorded on 22 November. It also had an additional three entry lines refused for shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans and veterinary drug residues, recorded on 8 November.

Okeanos Food, based in Bangkok, Thailand received an import alert for one shipment of shrimp, breaded shrimp, and various preparations on 27 November containing nitrofurans. It also had an additional line refused for shrimp contaminated with nitrofuran residues, recorded on 17 November.

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