Ecuador’s Aquaculture Chamber Warns That Power Outages Put Shrimp Production, Exports at Risk

Ecuador’s shrimp farming sector warned that the industry could be severely affected by the government’s lack of communication amid planned electrical outages across the country.

The National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) said that “serious problems” could occur within the shrimp industry if the electrical outages are not communicated properly. For one, shrimp feed manufacturers need ample time to turn on their equipment.

Shrimp packing plants also need to plan to receive the product in time to classify, process, package, and place it in containers for export...

Ecuador’s CNA Partners with Sustainable Shrimp Partnership for SustainED Event

The Sustainable Shrimp Partnership (SSP) and Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) organized the SustainED event, where over 120 individuals came together for an educational program aimed at promoting the sustainable development of Ecuador’s crucial shrimp industry. 

The SSP and CNA believe the SustainED has created a continuous training program that will strengthen the capacities for Ecuador’s shrimp industry while ensuring sustainable development. 

The first day of the event, hosted in Guayaquil, focused on the responsible use of sodium metabisulfite, ensuring the quality of the shrimp and access to international...

Seafood on Full Display During Outback Steakhouse’s Great Barrier Eats Promo

Outback Steakhouse announced its entrance into the value-menu arena that is occurring throughout the restaurant industry with its Great Barrier Eats limited-time menu.

The seafood-centric menu was inspired by the Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world and an Australian landmark. It showcases the chain’s shrimp and scallops.

The new menu features:

- Twin Reefs Shrimp: Dive into deliciousness with crispy breaded shrimp paired with buttery garlic shrimp scampi and a side. Starts at just $14.99...

Department of Labor Adds Shrimp from India to 2024 List of Goods Produced by Forced Labor

The Department of Labor (DOL) added shrimp produced in India to its 2024 “List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor.”

The Bureau of International Labor Affairs (ILAB) maintains a list of goods and their source countries that it believes are produced via child labor or forced labor under standards set in the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act (TVPRA) of 2005.

The ILAB said that the List is used mostly to boost public awareness and to promote efforts to combat...

Ecuador Shrimp on Display to Top Customer at World Seafood Shanghai 

Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA) has a significant presence at World Seafood Shanghai, a key seafood fair in China. The fair takes place from August 28 through August 30. 

CNA led the charge with the industry presence as the group has represented the industry for over three decades. According to the CNA, Ecuador’s shrimp sector was represented with a pavilion that features 17 exporting companies : Aquagold, Ceaexport, Cofimar, Empagran, Expalsa, Exportquilsa, Expotuna, Frigolandia, Limbomar, Nirsa, Omarsa, Procamaronex, Proexpo, Promarisco, Santa Priscila, Songa and Total Seafood...

UK Grocer Tesco Updates Farmed Decapod Crustacean Welfare Policy

UK grocer Tesco has updated its farmed decapod crustacean welfare policy — a welfare commitment that is being praised by nonprofit group Mercy For Animals.

Tesco’s policy was updated with the goal to provide transparency across supply chains and drive improvements. As part of the policy, all of the grocer’s farmed products must come from farms that comply with a recognized assurance scheme, such as the Aquaculture Stewardship Council (ASC), Global GAP or BAP. The grocer said that they are also committed to reducing antibiotic usage and publicly reporting the...

ANALYSIS: U.S. Shrimp Imports Drop Sharply in June

In data released Tuesday, U.S. shrimp imports fell sharply in June compared to last year with broad losses in nearly all our top trade partners. Imports for the month fell 14 percent to 117.241 million pounds, from 136.278 million pounds last year. The impact of negative y-o-y data was seen in all the top five: India (-14.8%), Ecuador (-20.2%), Indonesia (-8.9%), Vietnam (-8.5%), and Thailand (-14.0%).

There were also losses from Argentina (-6.6%) and Mexico (-45.8%). The only gainer in...

Prime Shrimp Expands Value-Added Shrimp Product Line Into Washington, Idaho, Montana and Oregon

Prime Shrimp began 2024 by expanding its product line with a new Soy Ginger offering. Now, a little more than halfway through the year, the value-added shrimp brand is expanding its retail footprint.

Based out of New Orleans, Prime Shrimp offers a wide line of boil-in-bag frozen shrimp and sauce products. Offerings are already available across the East Coast. But now, retail accessibility is growing in the Pacific Northwest thanks to a partnership with...

Colombian Agricultural Institute Suspends Raw Shrimp Imports From Ecuador

Due to fears of white spot syndrome, Colombia’s Agricultural Institute (ICA) announced late last week that it has decided to suspend import permits for raw shrimp and other crustaceans, “as well as risky products and by-products from Ecuador.”

White spot syndrome virus (WSSV) is considered highly contagious — as well as deadly for shrimp. ICA reports that its surveillance and control work on shipments from Ecuador have resulted in the “recurring” detection of the presence of WSSV. In an effort to keep Colombia free of WSSV, ICA said...

Texas Commercial Gulf Shrimp Season Opens Monday, July 15

Today is the day. The Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season for Texas state and federal waters will open Monday, July 15 30 minutes after sunset. 

The annual closing of the Gulf of Mexico commercial shrimp season off the Texas coast took place in mid-May. 

“The annual mid-May closure protects brown shrimp until they can reach larger, more valuable sizes during their major period of emigration from the bays to the Gulf of Mexico,” explained Robin Riechers, TPWD Coastal Fisheries Division director.

A reopening date was...

ANALYSIS: Argentina Shrimp Exports Slightly Down in 2024

The Argentinian National Institute of Statistics just released May figures for shrimp exports, accessible in GTT. Argentinian exports of wild shrimp in May 2024 progressed by 2.3% month-on-month, but they declined by 10.3% year-on-year. This is following a strong fall observed in the first quarter, with a slowdown of the demand, particularly from China, as well as political tensions in the country which impacted negatively export capacity.

Since January, Argentina sent 41,516 tonnes of muelleri shrimps abroad, which stands 15.7% lower than same time last...

Conagra Brands’ Evol Foods Adds First Seafood Dish To Frozen Single-Serve Meal Offerings

Conagra Brands’ Evol Foods, which is known for its wholesome frozen single-serve meals, has introduced its first seafood offering: Garlic Shrimp Cavatappi.

Evol prides itself in being “forward thinking” about frozen food, which to them means “freezing fresh, simple ingredients in order for busy people to eat better, healthier food whenever they want.” The brand’s single serve meal line has a handful of chicken products, like Chicken Adobo and Hot Honey Chicken, as well as red meat options, like...

Commerce Stands By Preliminary Determination For Frozen Shrimp From Ecuador

Despite pushback, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) has confirmed that they will not be adjusting preliminary antidumping rates for Ecuador’s Industrial Pesquera Santa Priscila and Sociedad Nacional de Galapagos (SONGA). 

The DOC announced its preliminary determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigation of frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador and Indonesia in late May. The determination was a result of a trade petition that was filed by the American Shrimp Processors Association (ASPA) in October 2024. Looking solely at Ecuador, SONGA was...

Future of Fish Event Demonstrates How Seafood Is Crucial To Global Food Supply Chain 

The "Future of Fish: Insights & Innovations Day" event was organized by Mission Kitchen last month. This event demonstrated how seafood is crucial to the global food supply chain and cultural identities. In addition, ocean sustainability emerged as an exciting challenge that may be addressed through innovation in aquatic industries, such as fisheries, aquaculture, and processors. As customer food preferences have been changing due to diets and environmental awareness, it should be noted that the seafood industry is required to...

ANALYSIS: EU Shrimp Imports Stable in Q1 Thanks to Spanish Market Boost

Between January and March 2024, the European Union imported 133k MT of shrimp of all species from any origin ex-EU. This represents a slight growth of 1.7% compared with Q1 last year, and a strong progression of 16.2% compared with the pre-COVID period of Q1 2019.

When looking at each country, the position of Spain as the largest importer of the region is confirmed again this year. First, its share of EU shrimp imports progressed from 27.1% in Q1 2023 to...

3 Takeaways From NOAA’s FY23 Report On SIMP

Late last week NOAA Fisheries released an update regarding the Seafood Import Monitoring Program (SIMP), sharing a review of the program’s effectiveness.

SIMP was first implemented in 2018 as a way to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The program established reporting and record-keeping requirements for imports of 13 seafood species groups: abalone, Atlantic cod, blue crab (Atlantic), dolphinfish (Mahi Mahi), grouper, King crab (red), Pacific cod, red snapper, sea cucumber, sharks, shrimp, swordfish and tuna (albacore, bigeye, skipjack, yellowfin, bluefin).

The implementation of the program was...

The Retail Rundown: Going All-Out for Autumn

Fall is just around the corner, with the official start of autumn this Sunday, September 22. As cooler weather sets in and travel plans wind down, grocers are ramping up their offerings of seasonal favorites to align with the change in consumer preferences. 

According to the Expana Retail Activity Index, seafood continues to lead for the fourth week in a row, making up 30% of total protein ads. Beef and pork are close behind, each at around 25%, while chicken accounts for 14%. Eggs represent 2.8% of retail opportunities, and turkey has 2.3%...

Indonesian NGOs Accuse Retailers of Perpetuating Forced Labor in Shrimp Sector

A report from a trio of Indonesia-based non-profit organizations found that labor and human rights violations occurred within Indonesia’s shrimp sector.

The NGOs claim that the violations are linked directly to supermarket pricing in the U.S., the United Kingdom, and Europe. The groups, Agitaka Centre for Social Analysis, Institute for Policy Research and Advocacy (ELSAM), and Migunani Research Institute, allege that because retailers pay less for shrimp than it costs to farm, they then raise prices for consumers, eliminating potential price recovery...

Shrimp from Thailand Removed from Labor Department’s Forced Labor List

The Department of Labor (DOL) announced that it had removed shrimp from Thailand from the list of prohibited products linked to forced labor, according to a September 5 notice published in the Federal Register.  

The official list, "Prohibition of Acquisition of Products Produced by Forced or Indentured Child Labor” (E.O. List), was updated after the DOL said it had received proper information from multiple sources that indicated the use of forced labor had dwindled significantly. 

“This information indicates that while children...

Gulf Shrimpers Warn New Offshore Wind Interest off Texas, Louisiana Could Harm Industry

An unsolicited proposal from Hecate Energy Gulf Wind for two commercial leases for wind energy development off the coast of Texas and/or Louisiana has raised significant new concerns for the U.S. shrimp industry, the Southern Shrimp Alliance said in a statement.

The Hecate proposal, which may potentially support hydrogen production, has the potential to close fishing grounds, interrupt maritime radar, and harm sensitive species and habitats for which shrimpers are held accountable under federal statutes, according to the SSA. Last week, the Alliance filed ...

Revised Schedule Released For Frozen Shrimp Investigation Into Ecuador, India, Indonesia and Vietnam

The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) issued a notice in the Federal Register on Wednesday announcing a revised schedule for the subject investigations into frozen warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, India, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This past May, ITC established a schedule for the conduct of the final phase of the subject investigations. The Commission explained that, “subsequently, the U.S. Department of Commerce issued a memorandum tolling certain statutory and regulatory deadlines by a total of seven days.

“The Commission, therefore, is revising its schedule to...

ANALYSIS: EU and UK Shrimp Imports Pick Up in Spring 2024

We have recently observed a positive trend in the European shrimp market after a seasonal dip in imports in February and March.

According to the latest data from Global Trade Tracker, EU and UK imports of shrimp from tier regions reached 53,847 MT in May 2024, a 5.5% progression since April, which was 10.6% up since March. All in all, from January to May 2024, EU and UK shrimp imports grew by 4.1% year over year.

However, May volumes are down 3.9% compared with...

ANALYSIS: June U.S. Shrimp Imports Expected to Decline

Expana’s Lead Analyst Angel Rubio forecasts June 2024 shrimp imports to come in at 122 million pounds, which would be a little over 10 percent below the 136.278 million pounds in June 2023.

This would bring the H1 total to 776.1 million pounds, down 2.3 percent from 794.601 million pounds in the first six months of last year.

Importers have been working on leaner inventories as the cost of capital and storage has increased and in country supplies have been good to meet current needs. However, challenges in...

Second Fishery Outside of Alaska, Gulf of Mexico Shrimp, Gains RFM Certification

Fifteen years of hard work has paid off for U.S. Gulf of Mexico shrimp fisheries. As of earlier this month, white, brown and pink shrimp in all five Gulf states and federal waters achieved Responsible Fisheries Management certification.

Collectively, it's the first shrimp fishery certified to the RFM standard, according to the Certified Seafood Collaborative.

RFM Certification requires fisheries meet RFM Standard criteria that evaluate fisheries in four key areas: A) the fisheries management system; B) science and stock assessment activities and the precautionary...

Commerce Releases Final Results of Antidumping Review of Shrimp From India

A notice regarding the final results of the antidumping duty administrative review of certain frozen warmwater shrimp from India was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday. According to the document, the final result remains unchanged from the preliminary results following the comment period.

The Department of Commerce first initiated an administrative review of the antidumping duty order on shrimp from India in April 2023. Commerce published its preliminary results review and partial rescission for 2022-2023 this past March. At the time, Commerce said they...

Shrimp Is The Star Of The Show This Summer

Summer is the perfect season to enjoy seafood. And while seafood boils and lobster rolls are always popular menu items, it wouldn’t be summer without a sizzling shrimp dish. And based on seasonal promotions it seems that all different types of restaurant chains agree. 

Brazilian Steakhouse Texas de Brazil, which serves all-you-can-eat grilled meat, does not typically offer seafood. However, the restaurant, which has 54 locations, has added two shrimp dishes to their third quarter menu.

For a limited time guests will be able to...

Proposed Legislation Would Give FDA Authority To Destroy Illegal Seafood Imports

Legislation proposed by Louisiana Congressmen Clay Higgins and Troy A. Carter, Sr. would grant the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to not destroy contaminated foreign seafood.

Titled “The Destruction of Hazardous Imports Act,” the bill would expand the FDA”s power to destroy products that have been refused admission into the U.S. and are considered a risk to consumers. Currently the FDA can destroy a refused drug valued at $2,500 or less “without providing the owner or consignee with the...

The Rise of Ocean Freight Costs And How It’s Impacting Seafood  

We all remember how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted maritime and air freight services. And while those days are behind us, disruptions are once again causing ocean shipping prices to rise to record highs. Expana’s Seafood Market Reporters share how the ocean freight situation is impacting different species:

Tilapia

Expana Senior Seafood Market Reporter Lorin Castiglione says that the tilapia frozen fillet market from China is facing significant turbulence due to ongoing supply challenges, rising freight rates, container shortages, and supply chain disruptions. Freight...

CNA Calls On Authorities To Take Action Against Dangerous Attacks On Ecuador’s Shrimp Industry

José Antonio Camposano, the Executive President of Ecuador’s National Chamber of Aquaculture (CNA), is once again speaking out against the violence that the shrimp industry endures. Just this month there were two attacks resulting in fatalities and other serious injuries.

The first attack, which cost a shrimp businessman his life, reportedly occurred in the province of El Oro on June 7. CNA says another incident occurred on June 19 when a truck transporting shrimp feed was attacked on Durán Boliche Road near...

ANALYSIS: April Shrimp Imports Decline In Wake Of Antidumping Duties

In data released today, and with the backdrop of CVD amended and preliminary AD released, there was a reduction in shrimp imports into the U.S. in April.

In terms of antidumping, for Ecuador, SONGA was hit with a 10.58% dumping margin and cash deposit, while Santa Priscilla was seen as “de minimis”, so not significant enough to have antidumping duties. The rest of the companies were assessed 10.58% dumping margin and 10.18% cash deposit. For Indonesia, PT Bahari Makmur Sejati was given no duty, while...