In 2012 the market began with positive notes in demand and price trends in various markets, while the current low season for farmed shrimp will persist until the next season stars in April/May.

According to industry sources, the world’s production of aquacultured shrimp was estimated to be 2.3 million tonnes last year, only fractionally more than in 2010. Farmed production during January to November 2011 in Thailand declined by 6% to 600 000 tonnes compared with 2010. Harvests from the southern provinces reached 330 000 tonnes, from the Andaman coast 90 000 tonnes and from the eastern region 150 000-180 000 tonnes. The production decline was mainly attributed to heavy floods in late 2010 and early 2011 in the southern region and heavy rains and cool weather in the central and eastern regions in the second half of the year. Quantitative exports during this period fell by 8% to 361 460 tonnes but value increased by 10% to THB 101 billion.

 In Viet Nam, over 81 000 hectares of black tiger shrimp farming were lost as a result of disease last year but vannamei shrimp production offset that loss with its production of 118 100 tonnes up to November 2011. The export value of shrimp during this period registered a 14% rise reaching nearly USD 2.17 billion compared with the same period in 2010, reported Viet Nam Seafood News.

Indian production increased significantly following the introduction of vannamei shrimp. Production of this species is likely to be more than 50 000 tonnes. Full reports are yet to come from the producing countries.

Japan

The post New Year demand is seasonally low in Japan and demand from the retail and catering trade moved from large to medium sized shrimp.

Low-key celebrations during the year-end/New Year were reported throughout Japan, which made restaurant trade slow. However, sales at supermarkets were better with more sales of raw vannamei shrimp and processed shrimp products. Post-New Year import inquiries are very few from Japanese buyers, with the next three months being the low harvesting period throughout Asia. Meanwhile, lower seasonal harvests and good Lunar New Year demand in other East Asian markets are keeping shrimp prices firm.

Japanese market imported more value-added and less raw shrimp in 2011

Since the earthquake and the subsequent radiation problems, shrimp imports have been characterised by increased supplies of prepared and value-added products. The falling household demand for raw shell-on shrimp caused a slight decline in cumulative imports during January-September 2011 compared with the previous year. The market also imported more dried shrimp in 2011. Supplies of all types of value-added shrimp have come largely from Thailand, except sushi shrimp with rice, most of which came from China.

Raw shrimp imports on the contrary, were at a five-year low during January-September 2011 from major sources. Although the preference for shell-on vannamei from Thailand is still good, flood-related supply shortage and a shift to value-added processing resulted in lower supplies of raw shrimp from Thailand.