According to VASEP, the Ministry of Commerce of India demonstrated that in the first 5 years of 2021, their shrimp export recorded a new peak despite the detrimental impacts of the COVID-19 in April and May.
Particularly, in the first 5 months this year, Indian shrimp export reached 254.000 tons, up 27% over the same period last year. Their shrimp export value reached 1.89 billion USD, up 33% compared to the same period in 2020. The quantity and export value increased 15% and 20% respectively compared to that in 2019.
Although in April and May the number of COVID-19 infected cases in India surged, shrimp exports in these two months were considerably high, up 80% and 32% respectively. Exports also rose by 34% and 19% compared to the same months in 2019.
In the first 5 months of 2021, the U.S., which is the biggest market importing shrimp from India, reached 117.000 tons, an increase by 50%. Exports to the second biggest shrimp import market, namely China, reached 51.000 tons, up 8%, and particularly reached 20.700 tons in May. Export to the EU reached 26.000 tons, up 21%. Among the main Indian shrimp import markets, an exception was Japan with its import of 11.000 tons, a 17% deduction compared to the same period last year.
According to shrimp-farming areas in India, shrimp export rose but the yield of farmed shrimp decreased. In Andhra Pradesh, the state with the highest shrimp production in India, the yield went down due to the uncertain market trend after the COVID-19, which confused farmers to continue farming. In Odisha, activities for the second farming season have been scaled down owing to the impact of floods in May. The production from August to December is expected to decline.
