In August 2024, shrimp imports to the U.S. fell significantly by 10.4 percent compared to the same month last year, totaling 146 million pounds (66,194 metric tons). This figure is down from 162 million pounds (73,429 metric tons) recorded in August 2023. However, this month’s imports did see an increase from July, which totaled 134.4 million pounds (60,981 metric tons).
During the first eight months of 2024, shrimp imports experienced an overall decline of 5.3 percent, reaching 1.05 billion pounds (477,021 metric tons), a decrease from 1.2 billion pounds (503,214 metric tons) in the same period the previous year.
India remained the leading supplier of shrimp to the U.S., although its shipments fell by 15 percent year-over-year in August, dropping from 67 million pounds (30,412 metric tons) in 2023 to 58 million pounds (26,302 metric tons) in 2024. Similarly, Ecuador experienced a notable decline, with exports to the U.S. decreasing by 18 percent from 41 million pounds (18,577 metric tons) in August 2023 to 34.1 million pounds (15,462 metric tons) this year.
Indonesia’s shrimp exports also saw a 7 percent drop, declining from 26 million pounds (11,735 metric tons) last year to 24.1 million pounds (10,945 metric tons) in August 2024. In contrast, Vietnam reported a 14 percent rise in its exports, increasing from 14.7 million pounds (6,669 metric tons) to 17 million pounds (7,699 metric tons). Thailand’s exports decreased from 5.9 million pounds (2,669 metric tons) to 3.5 million pounds (1,608 metric tons), while Argentina experienced growth, with shipments rising from 2.7 million pounds (1,246 metric tons) to 3.8 million pounds (1,739 metric tons).
Only a few other countries exported more than 2.2 million pounds (1,000 metric tons) of shrimp to the U.S. in August.
The Southern Shrimp Alliance (SSA) disclosed on October 4 that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had rejected 40 seafood shipments in September, three of which were shrimp containing prohibited antibiotics. The FDA also indicated an additional eight shrimp refusals in August for similar contamination issues, underscoring growing concerns regarding shrimp imports. The number of refusals linked to antibiotic contamination in 2024 has already reached the second-highest level since 2017.
The refusals in August and September were associated with two shrimp processors certified by Best Aquaculture Practices (BAP). Thuan Phuoc Seafoods and Trading Corporation from Vietnam, which boasts a four-star BAP certification, had several shipments of breaded shrimp denied entry due to contamination with veterinary drug residues. Likewise, Avanti Frozen Foods, also holding a four-star BAP certification, faced refusals for shrimp tainted with chloramphenicol, a common antibiotic used to treat eye infections.
The FDA has further updated its import alerts to include Indonesia’s Timur Laut BMSfood, which has been flagged for shrimp contaminated with enrofloxacin and oxytetracycline—antibiotics associated with antibiotic resistance issues. Mega Marine Pride, another Indonesian exporter operating under a four-star BAP certification, had three shrimp shipments rejected for short-weighting in August and September.
The SSA has been critical of BAP’s oversight in the past and maintains a “Check Your Suppliers” webpage to assist importers in identifying shrimp contaminated with antibiotics or produced under conditions involving forced labor.
Source: Seafood Source