Ecuador sees slight dip in 2024 shrimp exports, optimistic about 2025 growth

Ecuador exported less shrimp by both volume and value year over year in 2024, with big decreases seen in shipments to China.

Ecuador exported 2.67 billion pounds of farmed shrimp in 2024, bringing in USD 6.07 billion (EUR 5.79 billion), representing decreases of 0.2 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, when compared to 2023, according to figures from Ecuador’s National Aquaculture Chamber (CNA).

Ecuadorian shrimp shipments to China, the South American country’s largest market, fell 13.9 percent by value to USD 3.01 billion (EUR 2.87 billion) when compared to 2023 and 8.2 percent by volume to 1.45 billion pounds. China bought 58.9 percent of Ecuadorian shrimp by volume in 2023; that fell to 54.2 percent in 2024.

Ecuador’s second and third biggest markets, Europe and the United States, mostly picked up the slack. 

Exports to Europe grew 11.3 percent by value and 15.2 percent by volume, respectively, to USD 1.24 billion (EUR 1.18 billion) and 541 million pounds, the latter figure of which comprised 20.2 percent of Ecuador’s 2024 shrimp exports. 

Ecuadorian shrimp shipments to the U.S. increased 5.1 percent by value and 4 percent by volume to USD 1.32 billion (EUR 1.26 billion) and 473 million pounds, respectively. The U.S. imported 17.7 percent of all Ecuadorian shrimp in 2024.