U.S. shrimp imports rose sharply in January

U.S. shrimp imports are on a roll at the start of 2025, with NOAA data showing that imports in January reached 71,301 tons, up 20% year-on-year, and imports valued at $631 million, up 32% year-on-year, with average prices up 11% year-on-year to $4.02/lb.

In 2024, the U.S. imports 762,804 tons of shrimp products, valued at nearly $6.1 billion, down 3% from the 788,209 tons of shrimp imported in 2023, and down 6% in value ($6.4 billion).

Gary Morrison, UCN's director of market strategy, believes that the current import growth is the result of market clarity.

Indian shrimp exports to the US in January increased significantly, with exports up 55% year-on-year to 31,165 tons, and exports up 72% year-on-year to $267 million, with an average price up 11% to $3.89/lb. Ecuador's situation was not so good, with exports of 15,292 tons in January, down 13% year-on-year, and exports down 4% year-on-year to $117 million, but the average price rose 11% to $3.47/lb. Morrison pointed out that Ecuadorian shrimp demand in the Chinese market has weakened, but supply is also declining, and Ecuadorian exporters are looking to the US market to absorb the decline in Asian demand.

Currently, wholesale prices for shrimp in the United States are falling to drive sales growth. Imported shrimp are being promoted at discounted prices, and retailers are competing fiercely. Prices of head-on shell-on and head-on shell-on shrimp have continued to fall in the past few weeks, while prices of head-on shell-on shrimp have been mixed.

References ：UCN

Writer ： Jason Huffman