In 2024, the United States imported 762,804 tonnes of shrimp, representing a 3% decrease from the previous year and a 15% drop from the trade peak of 2021. However, this volume was 9% ahead of pre-Covid 2019, according to new analysis from Shrimp Insights.
While the total import volume is still ahead of pre-Covid times, the value of imports remains on par at US$6 billion. This is in line with the low prices shrimp sales have experienced, Shrimp Insights noted.
The main suppliers of shrimp products to the United States last year were India with 294,333 tonnes (-1% year-on-year), Ecuador with 187,040 tonnes (-9%) and Indonesia with 134,803 tonnes (-8%).
In terms of products, peeled imports totalled 377,719 tonnes (+1% year-on-year), shell-on at 203,552 tonnes (-12%), cooked and marinated at 115,121 tonnes (-3%) and breaded 60,772 tonnes (+1%).
Shrimp Insights explained that while India managed to limit its drop in export volume to the US in 2023 and 2024 and Ecuador’s exports dropped between the two years, Ecuador continues to be the US’s fastest-growing shrimp supplier and has been since 2019.
It adds that the overall supply to the States is consolidating, with India and Ecuador’s combined market share growing from 55% in 2019 to 63% in 2024.
