Testifying to its reputation as a delectable and popular seafood, global exports of shrimps totaled US$16.6 billion in 2015 up by an average 14.8% for all international shrimp sellers over the four-year period starting in 2012.

However, those metrics do not tell the full story about worldwide shrimp shipments. Exports of fresh, salted or smoked shrimps shrank in value by almost half, down -47.8% from $1.6 billion in 2012 to $839.7 million during 2015.

The good news is that $15.8 billion worth of frozen shrimps was exported in 2015, accounting for 94.9% of the valuation for all exported shrimp in 2015. The dominant frozen shrimp exports appreciated by 22.6% since 2012.

There are six different Harmonized Tariff System codes for shrimps and prawns: 030613 and 030617 for frozen seawater shrimps and prawns; 030616 for frozen freshwater shrimps and prawns; 030623 and 030627 for fresh, salted or smoked seawater shrimps and prawns; and 030626 for fresh, salted or smoked freshwater shrimps and prawns.

Frozen Shrimp Exports by Country (Seawater)

Frozen seawater shrimps generated $13.9 in export sales in 2015, up 18.8% from 2012.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of frozen seawater shrimps:

1. India: $3.1 billion (up 79.9% from 2012)
2. Ecuador: $1.9 billion (up 48.5%)
3. Vietnam: $1.6 billion (up 6.2%)
4. Indonesia: $1.2 billion (up 29.8%)
5. China: $970.6 million (down -0.7%)
6. Argentina: $763.8 million (up 60.2%)
7. Thailand: $624 million (down -55.9%)
8. Bangladesh: $425.3 million (up 2.5%)
9. Mexico: $311.9 million (up 121%)
10. Spain: $302.5 million (up 41.3%)
11. Honduras: $259.9 million (up 187%)
12. Belgium: $245.5 million (down -10.2%)
13. Malaysia: $196.1 million (down -41.7%)
14. Netherlands: $163.2 million (up 36.9%)
15. Nicaragua: $148.2 million (up 21.8%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 87.8% of all exported frozen seawater shrimps in 2015 (by value).

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporter since 2012 was Honduras with its 187% gain in value since 2012. In second place was Mexico (up 121%), followed by India (up 79.9%) and Argentina (up 60.2%).

Bucking the upbeat trend was Thailand, which endured a -55.9% decline in the value of its frozen seawater shrimp exports from 2011 to 2015.

Frozen Shrimp Exports by Country (Freshwater)

Frozen freshwater shrimps generated $1.9 billion in export sales during 2015, up 60.9% from 2012.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of frozen freshwater shrimps:

1. Ecuador: $381.5 million (down -34.1%)
2. Canada: $344.6 million (up 16.7%)
3. Denmark: $246.2 million (down -1.4%)
4. Greenland: $239.8 million (up 111.7%)
5. United States: $95.6 million (up 163%)
6. Netherlands: $69.9 million (up 33.4%)
7. Morocco: $57.5 million (no prior stats available)
8. Panama: $54.3 million (up 34.2%)
9. China: $53.6 million (down -35.2%)
10. Russia: $53.1 million (up 8.3%)
11. Mexico: $32 million (up 225.7%)
12. Indonesia: $29.2 million (down -45.9%)
13. Thailand: $23.4 million (up 26.9%)
14. Faroe Islands: $19.9 million (up 13.1%)
15. United Arab Emirates: $19.4 million (up 473.5%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 92.6% of all exported frozen freshwater shrimps in 2015 (by value).

Among the above countries, the fastest-growing exporter since 2012 was United Arab Emirates with its 473.5% gain in value since 2012. In second place was Mexico (up 225.7%), followed by United States (up 163%) and Greenland (up 111.7%).

Decliners from 2012 to 2015 were led by Indonesia (down -45.9%), China (down -35.2%) and Ecuador (down -34.1%).

Fresh, Salted or Smoked Shrimp Exports by Country (Seawater)

Exports of fresh, salted or smoked seawater shrimps were valued at $472.1 million for 2015, down -60.9% since 2012.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fresh, salted or smoked seawater shrimps:

1. China: $127.7 million (down -23.9%)
2. Thailand: $87.1 million (down -41.3%)
3. Nicaragua: $35.1 million (up 251.5%)
4. Netherlands: $27.5 million (down -89.2%)
5. Hong Kong: $24.2 million (down -2.5%)
6. Denmark: $22.5 million (down -69.1%)
7. United States: $16.8 million (down -52.6%)
8. Vietnam: $15.2 million (down -48.4%)
9. France: $13.1 million (down -51.8%)
10. Malaysia: $12.9 million (down -73.4%)
11. Taiwan: $9.9 million (down -14.1%)
12. Belgium: $6.8 million (down -37.4%)
13. Ecuador: $6.2 million (up 76.2%)
14. Portugal: $5.5 million (down -75.9%)
15. United Kingdom: $5.3 million (down -77.3%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 86.6% of all exported fresh, salted or smoked seawater shrimps in 2015 (by value).

Only two exporters grew their sales of fresh, salted or smoked seawater shrimps from 2012 to 2015: Nicaragua (up 251.5%) and Ecuador (up 76.2%).

Leading the 13 decliners were Netherlands (down -89.2%), United Kingdom (down -77.3%), Portugal (down -75.9%), Malaysia (down -73.4%) and Denmark (down -69.1%).

Fresh, Salted or Smoked Shrimp Exports by Country (Freshwater)

Exports of fresh, salted or smoked freshwater shrimps were valued at $367.7 million for 2015, down -8.8% since 2012.

Below are the 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of fresh, salted or smoked freshwater shrimps:

1. Netherlands: $134.5 million (down -36.6%)
2. Morocco: $65.7 million (no prior stats available)
3. Germany: $43 million (down -37.8%)
4. Denmark: $31.4 million (up 0.9%)
5. United States: $22 million (up 72.3%)
6. Norway: $11.4 million (up 47.7%)
7. Myanmar (Burma): $6.9 million (up 230,000%)
8. Indonesia: $6.5 million (up 174.7%)
9. India: $6.4 million (up 36.9%)
10. Malaysia: $6 million (up 28.8%)
11. Ecuador: $3.5 million (up 46.6%)
12. United Kingdom: $3.4 million (down -34.7%)
13. Thailand: $3 million (down -35.7%)
14. Belgium: $2.9 million (down -80.5%)
15. Spain: $2.9 million (down -72.3%)

The listed 15 countries shipped 95.1% of all exported fresh, salted or smoked freshwater shrimps in 2015 (by value).

The fastest-growing exporter since 2012 was Myanmar (Burma) with its impressive 230,000% gain in value. In second place was Indonesia (up 174.7%), followed by America (up 72.3%) and Norway (up 47.7%).

Decliners in the value of its fresh, salted or smoked freshwater shrimp shipments from 2012 to 2015 include: Belgium (down -80.5%), Spain (down -72.3%) and Germany (down -37.8%).
 

 

See also Top Beef Exporting Countries, Chicken Exports by Country and Pork Exports by Country

Research Sources:
The World Factbook, Field Listing: Exports – Commodities, Central Intelligence Agency. Accessed on September 24, 2016

Trade Map, International Trade Centre. Accessed on September 24, 2016

Wikipedia, Shrimp. Accessed on September 24, 2016

Alibaba, Supplier information for frozen shrimp. Accessed on September 24, 2016