THE GLOBAL SHRIMP FARMING INDUSTRY: STATUS, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES

According to FAO, global production of farmed shrimp reached 4.2 million metric tons (mmt) in 2011, 4.3 mmt in 2012 (+3.5%) and 4.5 mmt in 2013 (+2.7%).  However, the Global Aquaculture Alliance's GOAL 2015 survey shows that global production decreased to 4.0 mmt in 2012 (-3.5%) and to 3.6 mmt (-11.1%), for an overall decline of 14% between 2011 and 2013.  According to GOAL, there was a robust recovery in 2014 (up 21% to 4.3 mmt) with a minor decrease expected in 2015 (-2.4%), followed by an anticipated recovery in 2016 and 2017 at an annual rate of growth of around 7%. Global production is expected to reach around 4.8 mmt in 2017, barring new disease outbreaks in the next few years.

The Asian shrimp farming industry seems to be on the path of recovery following the substantial production declines in 2012 and 2013 caused by EMS/AHPND disease. Production peaked at 3.6 mmt in 2011 but could 4.0 mmt by 2017, driven mainly by considerable growth in Indonesia, which has so far been relatively unaffected by the EMS/AHPND disease crisis. Production in other countries in the region will also increase but their contribution will likely be more uneven.  

Most countries in the Americas region are expected to increase their farmed shrimp production in the near future. Mexico has shown a remarkable recovery from the EMS crisis and reportedly reached close to 100,000 mt in 2015. Remarkable growth is predicted for Ecuador, with production forecasted to increase from 300,000 mt in 2013 to 370,000 mt in 2017.  In general, the region is expected to grow 5.5% per year from 2013 to 2017.

At GAA, we recognize the main challenges to aquaculture growth include diseases and health management, aquafeeds and ingredients, environmental and social issues, marketplace, investment, leadership, consumer awareness and education. For example, the main viral and bacterial diseases have probably cost the industry over US$20 billion in the last three decades. And with the need to double production in the next 25 years, significant increases in aquafeed production and expanded production of established as well as new, sustainable ingredients.      

Industry trends include the need for more efficiency at every level of the production and marketing chain, industry consolidation, and creation of new markets, both internal and external. Increasing sustainable production will require more production from established and new species; expansion into new areas; improved domestication and genetic selection; new aquafeed ingredients; improved health management; new production technologies with increased control and better risk management and others. We also need to better attract professional investors, accelerate industry consolidation, and better address the market, which will increasingly require more efficiency, quality control and traceability - through certification and sustainability of the entire production chain and sustainability.