ECUADOR CAN PRODUCE 2.5 MILLION TONS OF SHRIMP BY 2027

ECUADOR: VASEP, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, report that CP's Robins McIntosh said Ecuador's current growth shows the country can produce 2.5 MT of shrimp by 2027, close to current levels of shrimp imports from the main markets.

After surpassing the farming level of 1 MT of vannamei shrimp production in 2021, based on the growth trajectory, Ecuador's production is expected to increase by 1.5 million in the next 6 years.

McIntosh said demand in the world's major shrimp import markets is currently 2.85 MT, led by the United States and China with 1 million and 900,000 MT, respectively. As previously reported, Ecuador exceeded 500,000 tons of exports in the first half of 2022 and India "needs to take precautions". McIntosh forecasts Indian production to drop by 100,000 MT in 2022 from 900,000 MT last year as Ecuador continues to grow strongly.

Ecuador has around 220,000 hectares of farms. McIntosh estimates 15-20% intensive farming, to produce 18-22 MT per hectare per year. So, if the 220,000 hectares are produced at 20 MT /year, the production will be 4.4 million tons.

Each year, many ponds will be converted, so each year these ponds have a continuous increase in production. They don't have to build new ponds, just convert them by adding aerators, automatic feeders, closing some inefficient ponds, and then feeding good quality.

 In addition, Ecuador is promoting a genetics program to further improve the quality of shrimp.

Source: Vasep