The U.S. imported 59,510 metric tons (MT), or 131 million pounds, of shrimp in February 2024, up from the 52,889 MT, or 116.6 million pounds, it imported in February 2023.
The total is also slightly higher than the 59,442 metric tons (MT), or 131 million pounds, the country imported in January 2024.
India led all countries in its U.S. shrimp exports, hitting 23,777 MT, or 52 million pounds, in February 2024. That's up from February 2023, when it sent 19,566 MT, or 43.1 million pounds. In January 2024, India sent 20,055 MT, or 44.2 million pounds of shrimp to the U.S.
The Indian government recently set the goal of reaching USD 12 billion (EUR 11.1 billion) in annual seafood export value by 2025, which would require an expansion of seafood exports by around USD 4 billion (EUR 3.7 billion) in value in the near future. But that
Ecuador exported 16,911 MT, or 37 million pounds of shrimp to the U.S. in February 2024, more than the 33 million pounds (15,382 MT) it achieved in February 2023. It shipped 38 million pounds (17,648 MT) of shrimp it sent to the U.S. in January 2024.
Indonesia sent 10,013 MT, or 22.1 million pounds in February 2024, which is lower than the 22 million pounds (10,419 MT) it sent a year prior and the 25 million pounds (11,387 MT) it sent to the U.S. in January 2024.
Vietnam shipped 7.8 million pounds (3,580 MT) to the U.S. in February 2024, up from the 2,383 MT, or 5.2 million pounds, from February 2023 yet lower than the 3,627 MT, or 7.9 million pounds, of shrimp exported in January 2024.
Argentina was in fifth place sending 1,367 MT, or 3 million pounds, to the U.S., which is higher than the 647 MT, or 1.4 million pounds, the country exported to the U.S. in February 2023. The total is also higher than the 1,159 MT, or 2.5 million pounds exported to the U.S. in January 2024.
Mexico was in sixth place, exporting 1,290 MT, or 2.8 million pounds, lower than the 1,813 MT, or 3.9 million pounds, exported in February 2023 and lower than the 1,916 MT, or 4.2 million pounds, exported in January 2024.
Thailand, in seventh, exported 1,217 MT, or 2.6 million pounds, which is higher than the 1,132 MT, or 2.4 million pounds, exported in February 2023, but down from the 1,851 MT, or 4 million pounds, exported in January 2024.
Next came China, which shipped 235 MT, or 518,000 pounds – slightly higher than the 208 MT, or 458,000 pounds, exported in February 2023. In ninth, Canada exported 142 MT, or 313,000 pounds, which is lower than the 177 MT, or 390,000 pounds, exported in February 2023. In tenth place, Honduras exported 133 MT, or 293,000 pounds, in February 2024, which is lower than the 203 MT, or 447,000 pounds, exported in February 2023.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced on 4 April that 60 seafood entry lines to the U.S. have been refused in 2024. Five of those lines comprised shrimp from Bangladesh and Thailand, which were refused due to contamination from banned antibiotics.
Specifically, Bangladesh-based Apex Foods received an import alert for four shipments containing nitrofurans and veterinary drug residues, recorded on 26 March.
Thailand-based Thai Union was placed on Import Alert 16-129 for ciprofloxacin and sulfamethoxazole found in its shipments.
