Due in large part to less shrimp coming from China and Thailand, the US imported 63,767 metric tons of shrimp worth $554.9 million in September 2019, 1.1% less in volume and 1.6% more in value than it imported in September 2018, reveals the latest trade data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The reduction marks the first y-o-y decline for US shrimp imports since February, when the country took in 42,905t worth $363.6m, 10% less in volume and 19% less in value than the same month a year earlier.
For the first nine months of 2019, however, overall US shrimp import volumes remain just a hair higher (1.1%) while the overall value is a bit lower (-4.5%) than the first three quarters of 2018. The US imported 494,964t worth $4.2 billion in the first nine months of 2019, compared to 489,639t worth $4.4bn imported in the first nine months of 2018.
Undercurrent News reported last week how the US trade war with China continues to take its toll on the Chinese shrimp industry. The US accepted 1,856t of shrimp from China worth $9.6m ($5.16 per kilo) in September, compared to 6,281t worth $41.0m ($6.53 per kilo) in September 2018. That’s a 70.5% decrease in volume and a 76.7% drop in value.
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