China's White Shrimp Production Down by Over 
150,000 tons in 2016
A survey report of shrimp farming in six Chinese provinces shows that overall vannamei production declined by more than 150,000 tons in 2016. This represents a reduction in output of about 20 percent. As we have been writing all year, the reduction in China's domestic shrimp industry is one of the factors behind the surge in shrimp imports, especially from countries such as Ecuador and India.
We run a historical overview of the Gulf of Alaska's trawl fleet rationalization programs. Last month the NPFMC tabled all options for providing some type of catch shares for the Gulf of Alaska trawl fleet, setting the latest 4-year process back to square one, and leaving the basic issue of how to end the race of fish unresolved.
In other news, monthly shrimp imports from India surged again to the US market in November, which helped push total shrimp shipments for the year past the 1.2 billion pound mark. US shrimp imports are on track to set an all-time record level for imported volumes in 2016. Still, despite India's surge in shrimp sales to the US market in 2016, its overall earnings from seafood exports are down 14.5 percent this year.
Meanwhile, fish and shrimp prices in Chinese markets are up as much as 50 percent in the run-up to the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 28 this year. Fish market operators say prices still have room to go even higher, particularly for fresh seafood items, as the major holiday gets closer.
Finally, Thai Union has set up a wholly-owned subsidiary in Shanghai. Tai Wan Sheng Aquatic Trading is 100 percent owned by TU and will handle marketing, branding, sales and distribution of seafood and other pre-packaged food in the Chinese market. Faisal Sheikh is Thai Union’s managing director of emerging markets will act as the representative of the subsidiary.
Have a great weekend.
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