Tariff Shuffle: Ecuador Takes Over from India as the Biggest Winner in the Global Shrimp Market

As the largest shrimp supplier to the U.S., India exported 304,000 tons of shrimp to America in 2024, worth $2.38 billion, capturing nearly 50% of the U.S. white shrimp market. However, starting August 1, 2025, the U.S. imposed a 25% punitive tariff on all Indian imports. Combined with the existing 2.49% anti-dumping duty and 5.77% countervailing duty, the total tax rate surged to 33.26%—far higher than Indonesia’s 22.9%, Vietnam’s 48.6%, and Ecuador’s 13.78%.

The massive cost gap has stripped Indian shrimp of price competitiveness. Some exporters are already considering halting U.S.-bound shipments, putting years of accumulated market dominance at risk of collapse.

II. Ecuador Seizes the Opportunity with Tariff Dividends

Ecuador, the world’s second-largest shrimp exporter, has emerged as the top choice for U.S. importers thanks to its stable policies and low tariff advantages, seizing a historic opportunity:

• Futures market: 20/30 size quoted at $5.91/kg, 30/40 at $5.01/kg, 40/50 at $4.71/kg, 50/60 at $4.41/kg (salted frozen products add $0.1–$0.3/kg);

• Farm-gate prices: 30-count/kg rose by $0.10 to $4.00/kg, while 40-count/kg and 60-count/kg increased by $0.10 and $0.05 respectively.

The steady price uptick reflects both tight raw material supply and rising global demand for Ecuadorian shrimp. It is widely expected that Ecuador will soon overtake India as the U.S.’s largest shrimp supplier.

III. Global Shrimp Market Enters "Quality Competition" Era

The tariff adjustments have also rippled through China’s market: extreme weather and diseases disrupted farming, yet supply-demand imbalances pushed prices upward. The market now faces a "shortage of large, healthy shrimp," with "sized" and "quality shrimp" becoming hot commodities among wholesalers.

Globally, shrimp trade has shifted from pure price competition to a battle for quality and supply chain stability. Ecuador’s rise underscores the critical role of policy environments and trade costs, while India’s setback serves as a warning of geopolitics’ far-reaching impact on industries. This tariff-driven reshuffle may redefine the global shrimp industry chain for years to come.