China’s November shrimp imports fell significantly short of levels typical for the time of year as Chinese consumers continue to view imported seafood with caution due to coronavirus contamination fears.
Imports of frozen warmwater shrimp by China came to 32,200 metric tons in the month, down 52% compared with November of last year, according to latest Chinese customs figures.
The drop in volume was augmented by the lower average value of shrimp imported, which dragged down the monthly value of imports by 57% year-on-year to $179 million.
Monthly cldwater shrimp imports were also lower at 5,300t, down 34% y-o-y, while the value of coldwater shrimp imports was $26m, down 40% y-o-y.
Continued weakness in China’s imports will worry suppliers given buyers typically start to ramp up orders in preparation for festivities around New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year at this time.
Last year, China imported a massive 68,000t of frozen warmwater shrimp in November, followed by a monthly record 88,000t in December, a volume that won’t be matched this year.
Ecuador, which relies heavily on the China market, remains the biggest loser of the import slump. China detected the coronavirus on packages of imported Ecuadorian frozen shrimp in July.
In November, Ecuador supplied 14,800t of China’s imports, down 57% compared with last year, while the value of imports was $71m in the month, down 65%.
In June of this year, before the scares, China imported a monthly record 50,000t of warmwater shrimp from Ecuador, worth $266m.
Other countries have also fared badly, with November imports from India at 9,900t (-34% y-o-y), from Vietnam, 2,100t (-50%), Thailand, 1,400t (-63%) and Argentina, 1,900t (-41%).
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December 30, 2020 at 05:32PM
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Trade insights: Chinese shrimp imports still in the doldrums - Undercurrent News
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