SEAFOODNEWS.COM — January 14, 2015 — According to NOAA, India exported 99,566 tonnes of shrimp, worth US$1.269 billion, to the US between January and November of 2014, up from 85,799 tonnes exported in the corresponding period of 2013.
With shrimp exports 75% of Indian seafood export earnings, exporters praise introduction of Vannamei in 2009
India has surpassed Indonesia to become the top shrimp exporting country to the US, through November 2014.
According to NOAA, India exported 99,566 tonnes of shrimp, worth US$1.269 billion, to the US between January and November of 2014, up from 85,799 tonnes exported in the corresponding period of 2013.
Frozen shrimp was the largest money earner among India's seafood exports, accounting for 73.14% of the US dollar earnings and 39.73% of the overall seafood export quantity during April – October 2014.
"India's export performance in shrimp could be attributed to the introduction of Vannamei in 2009. After constant lobbying from the local seafood industry, the government of India had approved the import of Vannamei broodstock from Hawaii and Florida in the US, which had been a huge success here," said Mangala Babu, a seafood exporter in Kochi.
According to him, the early mortality syndrome (EMS) which affected China, Thailand and Vietnam had brought down shrimp production in these countries, giving India a chance to outperform them. "Compared to last year, Thailand's aquaculture production has gone down by 30% to 40%, which drove up the demand for Indian prawns," he said.
The Rupee's devaluation also helped exporters to quote lower prices compared to other prawn producers, he added.
This story originally appeared on Seafood.com, a subscription site. It is reprinted with permission.