Argentinian shrimp prices plummet, bumper harvest and low-priced white shrimp hit the market

The Argentine shrimp industry is currently facing a challenging period. Argentine shrimp prices have experienced significant declines due to abundant catches and the impact of large quantities of low-priced farmed white shrimp (vannamei shrimp) on the market. ​ According to UCN, while larger wild shrimp prices have remained stable, prices for smaller sizes (from L2 and smaller) have fallen to about $5.25 to $5.50 per kilogram FOB (free on board), with some quotes even Lower. Production costs in Argentina have risen sharply since 2022 due to inflation. In December 2023, the country's annual inflation rate reached 211.4%, according to the country's statistics office. ​ Data from UCN show that Argentine shrimp prices fell sharply in the last months of 2023, although the decline was relatively small for the L1 size (10-20). Sources explained that the abundance of Argentine shrimp in the current inshore fishing season, mostly Landed shrimp are processed on land and are one of the ...