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Slide in shrimp prices continues in Japan

C.J. Punnathara

KOCHI, July 10

THE price of Indian black tiger shrimp (headless) has been consistently slipping in the Japanese markets during the past month.

The prices fell by nearly $2 for the large low-count varieties, while it dipped by $1 or less for the smaller high-count varieties at the Tokyo Central Wholesale market last month.

The prices have been moving in a narrow band, but the dip has become all the more pronounced during the past two months. The most popular Indian shrimp exports, the 16-20 count ranged between $14.4 and $13.1 per kg in June, lower than the earlier quotes of $15-14.

The prices for the same count were reigning as high as $16-15.8 per kg during January 2001.

The price of Indonesian black tiger, though commands a small premium over Indian prices, have also been showing a declining trend. The slip is universal for most varieties of Japanese shrimp imports including white shrimp and banana shrimp.

The fall in price of shrimp in the Japanese markets have also been accompanied by a sharp dip in the volume of exports from India. The volume of shrimp exports from India fell from 16,237 tonnes during January-April 2000, by close to 35 per cent to 10,69 0 tonnes during the corresponding period of the current year.

It is, therefore, not surprising that the total value realised from shrimp exports from India have also registered a corresponding decline. The total value realised from shrimp exports to Japan declined by close to 22 per cent between January-April 2000 and the corresponding period of the current year.

As per the latest price trends available for the last two months, the falling unit value and total value realisation are expected to continue. However, the trend is not unique to India alone. But extends to other major exporting countries including Indon esia, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines.