Ecuador's aquaculture sector calls for US trade negotiations

Following the recent India-US trade agreement that lowered tariffs on Indian shrimp to 18%, Ecuador's aquaculture sector has called for renewed negotiations with the US to protect its position in its largest export market.

Jose Antonio Camposano, president of Ecuador's National Aquaculture Chamber, wrote Feb. 2 on the social media platform X that shrimp accounts for 30% of Ecuador's non-oil exports to the US and emphasized the need to "take full advantage of all negotiation opportunities" to consolidate and expand market share.

Ecuador briefly surpassed India as the largest shrimp supplier to the US in late 2025, benefiting from a 15% tariff that was significantly lower than India's previous 50%, according to the US Department of Agriculture. With India's rate now reduced, competition has been intensifying. However, importers said Ecuador remained structurally advantaged.

A US-based importer said Feb. 11 that Ecuador has been seeking further negotiations "to stay competitive," but added: "Even if they would stay with a 15% and India has an 18%, Ecuador will still be more attractive." The importer cited faster transit times to the US as a key differentiator.

Another importer said that when factoring in tariffs, antidumping and countervailing duties, Ecuador still held a cost advantage. Ecuador's combined duty burden is about 18.78%, compared with India's 26%. Additionally, ocean freight from Ecuador to US ports is cheaper and quicker, reinforcing Ecuador's competitive position, according to the importer.

Market participants said conditions were steady. Ecuador-based packers have shown little willingness to discount.

"He didn't want to budge," the first importer said, noting that suppliers believe they retain an edge even with India's reduced tariff. The importer added that prices are likely to remain stable unless there is a major disruption or further tariff changes.

Infrastructure concerns in Ecuador were also dismissed. An importer said suggestions that Ecuador lacks export capacity were "not true," citing major processors, such as Santa Priscilla and Omarsa, and emphasizing that constraints were more about existing commitments than production limitations.

While broader tariff policy uncertainty continued, importers said buying activity has not materially slowed.

"The business has to keep going," a market source said, pointing to ongoing contracts with retail and foodservice chains. The same source said shrimp remained competitively priced compared with other proteins, even with tariffs in place.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed US peeled, deveined, tail-on shrimp at $5.15/pound, delivered New York for 30-60 days forward, on Feb. 11.