US DATA: Shrimp imports from Ecuador rise in 2025 amid tariff uncertainty

The US' imports of shrimp in full-year 2025 increased 4.2% on the year, according to US Department of Agriculture data, and flows from Ecuador rose nearly 24%, increasing its share of the US market as tariff policies impacted trade flows.

Shrimp imports into the US totaled 795,641 metric tons across all origins in 2025, rising on the year, even as December volumes fell on the year. In December, the US imported 62,990 mt, rising 1.7% on the month but 6% on the year, the data, released on Feb. 19, showed.

Although India remained the top supplier of shrimp to the US in 2025 -- with flows totaling 300,051 mt, or a 38% share -- Ecuador posted the largest on-year growth in its share, which rose to 29% after exporting 231,804 mt to the US, the data showed.

Flows from other origins moved in the opposite direction in 2025. US imports of shrimp from Indonesia fell 8.7% to 123,113 mt in 2025, representing a 15% share, while imports from Vietnam totaled 60,631 mt, falling 12.5% to represent an 8% share.

On a month-on-month basis, Ecuador narrowly led as the top supplier to the US in December, with exports totaling 22,121 mt, rising 34% on the year, compared to India's India's 21,819.8 mt, down 8%.

India's December flows were still 17.8% higher than November, while Ecuador's volumes increased just 5.9% from November.

Market participants have consistently tied the late-2025 shift toward importing from Ecuador to tariff-driven risks and the cost differential that developed between origins.

Buyers largely avoided making sudden moves while policy direction was still evolving, and many did not expect clean refund outcomes for duties already incurred. That uncertainty also contributed to contracting behavior and risk allocation. More business shifted away from basing contracts on a delivered and duty-paid basis, wherein exporters take on more landed-cost risks, toward free-on-board structures that placed more tariff volatility on the buyer.

In that environment, origins perceived to have a relative tariff advantage and steadier deliverability, such as Ecuador, were better positioned to capture marginal demand.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed US Shrimp prices basis CIF New York at $5/pound, unchanged from the previous session.