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U.S. shrimp imports dropped in November 2023 compared to October but were up significantly year over year.  
The U.S. imported a total of 155 million pounds, or 70,680 metric tons (MT), of shrimp in November, a 10.9 percent increase from the 117 million pounds (63,534 MT) imported in November 2022 – but down from the 167 million pounds (76,187 MT) the country purchased in October 2023.
Between January and November 2023, the U.S. imported 1.59 billion pounds of shrimp (720,668 MT), which was short of the 1.7 billion pounds (776,036 MT) it imported between January and November 2022.
India, Ecuador, and Indonesia maintained their positions as the top three shrimp-exporting nations to the U.S. in November 2023 in volume terms.
India sent 61.9 million pounds (28,099 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in November 2023, which is up from the 46 million pounds (21,282 MT) it exported in November 2022 but, similar to overall trends, down on October 2023, when it sent 65 million pounds (29,860 MT). India has held the spot as the largest U.S. shrimp supplier for the past nine years.
Ecuador, meanwhile, sent the second-highest volume of shrimp to the U.S. at 34.4 million pounds (15,636 MT) in November 2023. That monthly total was more than the 32.7 million pounds (14,866 MT) it sent in November 2022, and more than the 40.4 million pounds (118,355 MT) it exported in October 2023. 
Indonesia exported 28.7 million pounds (13,059 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. in November 2023, which is down from November 2022, when it exported 29.9 million pounds (13,564 MT). The total, though, was up slightly from the 28.6 million pounds (13,009 MT) of shrimp Indonesia exported to the U.S. in October 2023.
The fourth top shrimp exporter to the U.S. in November 2023 was Vietnam, which shipped 12.9 million pounds (5,891 MT) of shrimp to the U.S. – up from 11.9 million pounds (5,433 MT) in November 2022, and also higher than the 11 million pounds (5,020 MT) the Southeast Asian country exported to the U.S. in October 2023.
Next in the rankings was Thailand, which shipped 6.9 million pounds (3,142 MT), which is up from the 6.7 million pounds (3,065 MT) it exported in November 2022, but less than the 8.7 million pounds (3,982 MT) it exported in October 2023.
Mexico sent 4.5 million pounds (2,042 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., which is a lower total than November 2022’s 5.6 million pounds (2,547 MT), but higher than its total in October 2023 of 3.3 million pounds (1,509 MT).
Argentina was seventh in the rankings, exporting 2.9 million pounds (1,335 MT) to the U.S., marking an increase from its total in November 2022 of 2.4 million pounds (1,098 MT). In October 2023, Argentina sent 3.1 million pounds (1,412 MT) of shrimp to the U.S.
China was eighth in the volume ranking, exporting 491,000 pounds (223 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., slightly lower than the 504,000 pounds (229 MT) it exported in both November 2022 and October 2023, respectively.
Venezuela was next, exporting 451,947 pounds (205 MT) of shrimp to the U.S., which is up from the 392,422 pounds (178 MT) it exported in November 2022 and a large increase from the 88,000 pounds (40 MT) it sent in October 2023.
Peru rounded out the top 10, exporting 264,000 pounds (132 MT), which is less than the 465,000 pounds (207 MT) it exported in November 2022 and the 381,000 pounds (173 MT) it sent in October 2023.
On 8 January 2024, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration released information on 74 seafood entry line refusals it conducted in December 2023, with Indian, Thai, and Ecuadorian shrimp exporters in particular called out for exporting shrimp containing banned antibiotic contaminants.
Calcutta Seafoods, based in Calcutta, India, received an import alert concerning four shipments on 19 December containing nitrofurans. It also had an additional three entry lines refused for shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans and veterinary drug residue.
Okeanos Food, based in Bangkok, Thailand, received an import alert for three shipments of shrimp, breaded shrimp, and various other preparations on 27 December that also contained nitrofurans and veterinary drug residue. 
Guayas, Ecuador-based Cofimar received an import alert for one shipment containing nitrofurans, recorded on 29 November. It also had one entry line refused for shrimp contaminated with nitrofurans and veterinary drug residue.
Photo courtesy of SomprasongWittayanupakorn/Shutterstock






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