US shrimp imports heating up in latter half of 2023

U.S. shrimp imports remained steady in September 2023 after declining earlier in the year.

For the month, the U.S. imported a total of 155.6 million pounds, or 70,587 metric tons (MT), of shrimp – up from 142.9 million pounds (64,801 MT) imported in September 2022, and up from the 161.8 million pounds (73,429 MT) in August 2023.

India, Ecuador, and Indonesia were ranked first, second, and third once again in terms of total volumes shipped to the U.S. in September. India sent 63.9 million pounds (28,992 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in September 2023, up from September 2022, when it exported 63 million pounds (28,568 MT), but down from August 2023, when it sent 67 million pounds (30,412 MT). India has been the biggest U.S. shrimp supplier for the past nine years.

Ecuador exported the second-highest volume of shrimp to the U.S. at 40.8 million pounds (18,504 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in September 2023. Its monthly total was higher than the 33.3 million pounds (15,109 MT) it sent in September 2022, and slightly less than the 40.9 million pounds (18,577 MT) it exported in August 2023. 

Indonesia exported 21.1 million pounds (9,557 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in September 2023, down from September 2022, when it exported 23.2 million pounds (10,524 MT). The total was down from the 25.9 million pounds (11,735 MT) of shrimp Indonesia exported to the U.S. in August 2023.

The other top shrimp exporter to the U.S. in September 2023 was Vietnam, which shipped 15.4 million pounds (6,965 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., up from its total in September 2022 of 11.9 million pounds (5,365 MT), and more than the 14.7 million pounds (6,669 MT) it exported to the U.S. in September 2023.

Thailand shipped 6.3 million pounds (2,898 MT), up from the 5.6 million pounds (2,557 MT) it exported in September 2022, and more than the 5.8 million pounds (2,669 MT) it exported in September 2023.

Mexico sent 1.7 million pounds (753 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., lower than its total in September 2022 of 2.8 million pounds (1,287 MT); and higher than its total in August 2023, when it sent 1.5 million pounds (735 MT). 

Argentina was seventh, exporting 3.1 million pounds (1,430 MT) to the U.S., a boost from its total in September 2022 of 2.3 million pounds (1,069 MT). In August 2023, Argentina sent 2.7 million pounds (1,246 MT) of shrimp to the U.S.

China was eighth in the volume ranking, exporting 273,000 pounds (124 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., down from 782,000 pounds (355 MT) it exported in September 2022, and a decline from the 379,000 pounds (172 MT) it sent in August 2023.

Canada was in ninth with 557,000 pounds (253 MT ) it sent to the U.S., slightly lower than its September 2022 total of 577,600 pounds (262 MT), and higher than the 460,000 pounds (209 MT) it sent in August 2023. 

Venezuela rounded the top 10, exporting 264,000 pounds (120 MT), which was less than the 370,000 pounds (168 MT) it exported in September 2022, but up from the 88,000 pounds (40 MT) it sent in August 2023.

Photo courtesy of chinahbzyg/Shutterstock