Somsak Paneetatyasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association (TSA), expects aquaculture production of the popular shellfish to reach 300,000 tons this year, and increase to as much as 350,000 tons in 2017.
In an interview with The Nation, a Bangkok-based English language newspaper, he said that hatcheries were recovering strongly from the Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) outbreak that has curtailed output for the past several years. He added that the industry has learned important lessons from the problem that has resulted in the implementation of reforms in hatchery procedures.
TSA President Somsak PaneetatayasaiWith better-managed shrimp farms, survival rates have risen, and yield per hectare is now is 62.5 tons per hectare higher than in other countries, according to the TSA.
Somsak told The Nation that Thailand will remain second only to India as a shrimp exporter next year. Thai shrimp output has risen by 15% to 300,000 tons this year, compared with production of 260,000 tons in 2015.
India’s production in 2016 was reportedly up five percent to 400,000 tons. Meanwhile, Vietnam’s output rose five percent to 220,000 tons, and Indonesia’s production advanced by 23% to 270,000 tons.
The USA is Thailand’s largest shrimp export market, taking approximately 40% of total volume. Ranking second is Japan at almost 30%. Next is China, which will is expected to account for about 10% of total exports next year.
