Argentina Red Shrimp: Shorter Season, Bigger Harvest – Exports to China Surge 137%

Argentina’s 2025 red shrimp fishing season defied expectations: delayed 4 months by labor disputes and ending early (late Sept), it still delivered a big harvest. Thanks to strong stock quality and surging Chinese demand, the season also shifted global frozen seafood trade dynamics.

1. Shorter Season, Better Results – Science Proves Sustainability

Data from Argentina’s INIDEP (National Institute for Fisheries Research) confirms the season’s success, with key fishing zones outperforming expectations:

• Zone 4: 4,264 kg/hour fishing efficiency; 17,800 tons daily catch per ship. 66% are large L1-sized shrimp (the most in-demand grade globally).

• Zone 7: A new high of 7,627 kg/hour efficiency; 18,100 tons daily catch per ship. Sustainable metrics shine: only 5.19% juvenile shrimp, 7% cod bycatch (ideal level).

This “quantity + quality” win lifted prices too: ship-frozen red shrimp rose ~$2/kg YoY to over $6/kg, driven by depleted EU/Japan inventories and concentrated supply.

2. China Leads Demand: Exports Surge 137% YoY

China’s demand has become the “growth engine” for Argentina’s red shrimp exports, with striking numbers:

• July 2025: 1,113 tons exported to China (+137% YoY vs. 469 tons in 2024).

• Jan-Jul 2025: Total exports hit 12,500 tons (+37% YoY)—far outpacing growth in Europe and Japan.

Top exporter Iberconsa is adapting to Chinese tastes. At the 2025 Shanghai Fisheries Expo, it highlighted headless red shrimp as a flagship product. “It’s convenient and cost-effective—perfect for Chinese consumers,” Lago (Iberconsa) noted.

The shrimp is also expanding in China via multi-channels: supermarket frozen sections, e-commerce “seafood festivals,” and community group-buy “direct-origin” packs—shifting from a “niche import” to a “daily home ingredient.”

3. Global Trade Shift: “Short Season + China Focus” = New Norm?

The 2025 season has accelerated two key trends for Argentina’s red shrimp industry:

• Eastward tilt: “China’s demand momentum is unmatched—It’s no longer just an ‘important market,’ but our core driver,” Lago said.

• Shorter season as strategy: Though cut short by labor issues, concentrated fishing reduced costs and boosted efficiency. Insiders predict this model could become a long-term solution for trade uncertainties.

For Chinese consumers, this means more stable supply and fairer prices for quality red shrimp. But challenges remain: How to balance demand with resource protection? How to cut supply chain costs?

This South American harvest isn’t just a win for Argentina—it’s a sign of how global seafood trade is being reshaped by emerging markets.