Thai shrimp production is projected to decline by 4% year-on-year, primarily due to disease outbreaks and decreasing prices, according to the Thai Shrimp Association.
Ekapoj Yodpinit, the association’s president, stated that total shrimp production in 2024 is estimated to drop to 270,000 tonnes from 280,000 tonnes the previous year.
Factors contributing to this decline include disease outbreaks and unpredictable weather conditions, which are impacting the quality of juvenile shrimp and overall farming environments. Additionally, falling prices have led some farmers to delay the start of their new farming cycles.
In light of these challenges, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry has made it a priority to address the issues facing the shrimp sector as part of the national agenda.
A significant concern is the ongoing early mortality syndrome (EMS), which has plagued farmers for the past 11 years and appears to be beyond their ability to manage alone.
The industry is calling on the government to enact effective measures to resolve the disease issue within three years. Successful interventions could assist farmers in achieving production goals while supplying high-quality food to the market, thereby revitalizing this vital industry.
“The industry requests the government to allocate 2 billion baht to tackle challenges in the shrimp sector, which could help mitigate over 600 billion baht in losses and potentially boost high-quality Thai shrimp production to 400,000 tonnes within three years,” Mr. Ekapoj said.
The upper southern region accounts for 37% of total Thai shrimp output, while the lower southern (Andaman coast) contributes 23%. The eastern region adds 20%, the central region 10%, and the lower southern region in the Gulf of Thailand, another 10%.
Globally, shrimp production is expected to reach 5.04 million tonnes this year, marking a 4% decrease compared to last year, with major producers like China, Ecuador, India, and Vietnam also reporting declines.
From January to October, Thailand exported 109,048 tonnes of shrimp valued at 34 billion baht, reflecting a 1% decrease in volume and a 6% drop in value year-on-year.
For 2024, Thailand is expected to export between 120,000 and 130,000 tonnes of shrimp, valued at approximately 40 billion baht, similar to the previous year. However, if the EMS issue remains unresolved, exports may stagnate in both volume and value in 2025, according to the association.
Key markets for Thai shrimp exports include Japan, the US, China, South Korea, and Taiwan, as noted by Mr. Ekapoj.
He also mentioned that Ecuador, the world’s leading shrimp producer, poses a competitive threat to Thai exports, producing 1.3-1.4 million tonnes of shrimp annually, which constitutes 20% of its GDP.
Any price dumping in the global market could negatively impact Thai shrimp exports, Mr. Ekapoj warned.
