According to the latest data from China Customs, China imported 43,000 tons of vannamei shrimp in April, a decrease of 19% compared to the same period last year. The import value was 240 million U.S. dollars, a decrease of 21%. The average unit price of imports was 5.51 U.S. dollars per kilogram, which was a decrease of 0.11 U.S. dollars from last April.
In the first four months of 2021, China’s total imports were 178,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of 15%. China’s imports of Ecuadorian shrimp in April fell 30% year-on-year to 26,100 tons, which also was lower than the 29,000 tons imported in March.
Imports from India increased by 32% year-on-year to 8,500 tons. This was because India’s strict blockade in April last year restricted exports.
Other major suppliers, Vietnam and Thailand imported 1,400 tons and 1,500 tons respectively, down 55% and 16% year-on-year.
According to Chinese customs data, the average unit price of China’s imports from Ecuador in April was only $4.96/kg. From India (mainly supplying headless shell shrimp to China), the average value of imports in April was $6.17/kg. The lowest-priced shrimps are from Venezuela and Peru. Their imports are 480 tons and 1,111 tons, with an average value of US$4.09/kg and $4.77/kg, respectively. Shrimp from Thailand is one of the most expensive shrimp among major suppliers, with an average price of $9.06/kg, while the price of Vietnamese shrimp is $7.62/kg.
