Overview of global shrimp prices in week 37: Indonesia sees a decline, while Ecuador and India experience an increase.

The Indonesian product found to contain the radioactive isotope cesium-137 originated from the Serang factory under BMS, located in the Banten region of the main production area on Java Island. The two other BMS factories, Medan and Makassar, which are further away, have also been shut down. The Medan factory, the largest processing plant in the Sumatra region, was banned, leading to a collapse in local shrimp prices.

Gerry Kamahara, head of the Indonesian company Aqua Gallan Karyacipta, told UCN: "BMS purchases around 85% of the local production, with the remaining sold to smaller factories. Since BMS was placed on the U.S. red list, local shrimp farmers are at a loss. BMS has an extensive procurement network across Indonesia, with production sites distributed from east to west in Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Lombok, and Sumbawa islands, with 80% of its products sold to the U.S."

Indian prices rise slightly

In the 37th week, Indian production area prices rose slightly, with prices for 30/up increasing by INR 10/kg. According to Indian entrepreneur Manoj Sharma, it is not currently the harvest season in India, and raw material supply in Andhra Pradesh is tight, leading processing plants to slightly increase procurement prices to maintain operations.

Affected by U.S. tariffs, Indian shrimp farmers are cautious about investing in the next batch. If the tariff issue is not resolved, shrimp farmers will abandon the mainstream sizes (30-50) needed for the U.S. market and shift to smaller sizes preferred by China and other Asian markets.

Ecuador prices rise

In the 37th week, Ecuador pondhead prices showed an upward trend again, with increases of $0.05-0.15/kg, and more significant increases for smaller sizes, with 20/30 sizes about $1.0/kg higher than 30/40 sizes.

Ecuador's security issues have always been a hidden danger for the shrimp farming industry, with many farms being extorted by criminal elements, leading to increased costs. During the Shanghai Fisheries Expo, Ecuadorian vendors increased their prices for the Chinese market, but importers remained cautious. The main difficulty in sales is that the current spot price in the Chinese wholesale market has not risen as much as the futures price, and importers chasing higher prices could incur greater losses.

Vietnam prices come down from highs

Vietnam's white shrimp prices began to correct after several weeks of continuous increases, but overall prices remain high; black tiger shrimp prices also fell. Vietnam's farming costs are higher than Ecuador's and India's but lower than China's. During the customs clearance period, Vietnamese exporters actively explored the EU and Asian markets, achieving ideal sales results.

Thailand shrimp prices remain stable

In the 36th week, Thailand's South American white shrimp prices remained the same as the previous week, currently slightly above the lowest range of the year, and U.S. tariffs do not seem to have severely impacted Thailand's farming industry.