The Hindu Business Line : Indian shrimp prices up in US market on shortage

PRICE of shrimp imported from India, across all varieties has risen in the US markets, even as price of imports from Thailand and Bangladesh has remained stagnant. Vietnam is the other country from where shrimp imports have shown a corresponding increase.

The price increase was most visible in the case of shell-and-tail-on frozen black tiger shrimp, as well as the peeled and de-veined variety. Price increase in the tail off imports was much lower on a month-to-month basis between June 23 and July 22.

The average f.o.b prices for Indian shrimp in New York for 6/8 count rose to $11.10 a pound as against $10.95 as on June 23, 2005. Prices for 8/12 count were $9.25 ($8.95), 12/15 count were $7.40 ($7.30), 16/20 at $6.00 ($5.75) and 21/25 count was $4.45 ($4.50).

Elaborating on the reasons for the firm trend, sources in the Seafood Exporters Association of India said a large number of the smaller exporters from the country had not been able to maintain their presence in the US markets ever since the imposition of the anti-dumping duty. This had led to a shortage of Indian shrimp in the US markets, triggering firm to buoyant prices.

With most of the aquaculture shrimps having been harvested by February/March, this is the off-season for Indian shrimp farms. Consequently, the production and availability of farmed shrimps - mainly black tiger - would be much lower. With the post-tsunami catch yet to stabilise, there is still uncertainty about the shrimp caught from the Indian coast, SEAI sources said.

The tsunami had devastated large tracts of the southern and eastern coast, damaging the boats and fishing gear of the rich shrimp regions off the coast of Orissa, Andhra Pradesh, Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The impact would be still in evidence in the reduced catch from these seas, the sources added.

Indian peeled and de-veined shrimp of 6/8 count fetched $11.90 ($11.10), 8/12 count was $9.85 ($9.60), 12/15 count at $8.60 ($8.60), 16/20 count at $6.30 ($6.30) and 21/25 count was $5.35 ($5.30). The prices of tail-off shrimp import from India have remained stable ranging from $9.60 for the 8/12 count and $5.30 for the 21/25 count.

In most of the value added segments, cooked and de-veined varieties, peeled and de-veined blocks and individually quick frozen segments, India does not have a significant presence in the US markets.

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