FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Shrimp industry looks to New Year

Shrimp industry looks to New Year

THAI SHRIMP farmers and exporters foresee brighter prospects next year, with production expected to reach 350,000 tonnes, the highest in four years since the industry faced early mortality syndrome (EMS) in 2013 and 2014.

Exports next year are expected to grow by 10-15 per cent to 230,000-250,000 tonnes from the 200,000 tonnes estimated for this year. A total of 300,000 tonnes of shrimp has been produced this year.
Somsak Paneetatyasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said hatcheries were recovering strongly from the EMS outbreak. He said the industry had learned valuable lessons from the problem and had instituted reforms in hatchery procedures such as ensuring a clean water supply. 
With better-managed shrimp farms, survival rates have increased, and yield per rai now is 10 tonnes (62,500 tonnes per hectare), higher than in other countries, the association claims.
Thailand will remain the world’s second-largest shrimp exporter after India next year, it says. Thai shrimp production has increased by 15 per cent to 300,000 tonnes this year compared with 2015 production of 260,000 tonnes, while India’s production was up 5 per cent to 400,000 tonnes. 
This year, global shrimp production was down by 1 per cent from 2015 to 2.36 million tonnes. China produced the most, but only for domestic consumption, at 550,000 tonnes, down by 8 per cent from 2015. 
Vietnam’s production rose 5 per cent to 220,000 tonnes, and Indonesia’s increased by 23 per cent to 270,000 tonnes. 
Latin American countries decreased their shrimp production by 3 per cent to 525,000 tonnes.
Next year, total world shrimp production is expected to be unchanged, as some countries are still struggling with shrimp diseases, while Thailand’s production will increase.
Somsak said Thai shrimp exports would grow in many markets, particularly China, as demand is on the rise in many emerging cities with higher purchasing power.
He added that although shrimp exports to the European Union had dropped, the increased demand in other markets would make Thailand less reliant on the EU market. 
The United States is Thailand’s major shrimp export market, receiving about 40 per cent of shipments, followed by Japan with almost 30 per cent. China will account for about 10 per cent next year. 
Another potential market is Australia, and the association has called on the government to help negotiate for that country to allow the import of Thai fresh shrimp. 
To increase exports to China, the association has also encouraged the government to ask that country to eliminate value-added tax on shrimp, while increasing public relations about good labour practices in the Thai shrimp industry.
For this year, the association forecasts total exports jumping by 25 per cent to 200,000 tonnes, worth around Bt60 billion.
In the first 10 months of this year, shrimp exports rose by 41 per cent in volume to 160,935 tonnes, and increased by 23.11 per cent in value to Bt54.48 billion. 
 

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