Except Indonesia, Vietnam, Mexico and Malaysia, all major shrimp exporting nations, have witnessed a drop in sales to the US last year.

Thailand, the biggest shrimp exporter to the US, saw its shipments declining to 188,319 tonnes from 193,764 tonnes in 2006. Exports from Ecuador dropped by 235 tonnes to 59,128 tonnes while Chinese exports dropped from 68,150 tonnes in 2006 to 48,419 tonnes.

Indonesia performed slightly better in 2007 with 59,069 tonnes exports while Mexico shipped 5,000 tonnes more to 40,558 tonnes during the period. The total imports of shrimp by the US also dropped in 2007 to 556,936 tonnes,  against 590,299 tonnes, an all time high import, in 2006. The country imported 528,836 tonnes in 2005 and 517,617 tonnes in 2004.

Anwar Hashim, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI) said imposition of anti-dumping duty and advent of low-cost Vanammei species of shrimp had affected the Indian exports badly in 2007.

Talking to Business Standard, he said that the stipulations by the US Department of Commerce (DoC) had forced a number of Indian seafood exporters to cease exports to the US. The number of exporters to the US, which was 179 in 2001-02, had dropped to 80 in 2007.

Almost 90 per cent of the global shrimp aquaculture production is of Vanammei species, which has several advantages such as low cost of production, better resistance to diseases and high stocking densities.  The cost of production of Vanammei is Rs 80-90 a kg compared with Rs 180-190 a kg of black tiger. 

According to Hashim, countries such as Thailand, China, Indonesia and Vietnam had switched over to Vanammei species, while India cultures mainly Black Tiger, Indicus and fresh water scampi.

 The country's overall exports dropped by 93,956 tonnes  to 392,939 tonnes during April -December 2007-08. Total exports earning during the period was down to Rs 5701.42 crore (Rs 57.01 billion), against Rs 6659.22 crore (Rs 66.59 billion) in the same period of previous financial year, according to a latest estimates of Marine Products Export Development Authority.