Image: Kontali / Vasep / FIS

The Renaissance of Black Tiger Shrimp

INDIA
Monday, April 15, 2024, 01:10 (GMT + 9)

Black tiger shrimp is experiencing a renaissance, especially in India and China, but experts such as Kontali analyst Ida Skancke and Dr. Manoj Sharma, India's leading shrimp farmer, note that the Producers would be foolish to eliminate whiteleg shrimp.

Black tiger shrimp (P. monodon) is the second most farmed shrimp species in the world, after white shrimp (L. vannamei).

Black tiger shrimp farming began in Asia in the 1980s and they quickly became the dominant farmed shrimp species. Initially, the industry relied on naturally reproducing species to source postlarvae (PL), but increased disease in wild populations prompted a reassessment of industry practices. The onset of the white spot syndrome (WSSV) epidemic in the 1990s prompted a shift towards SPF white shrimp farming in Asia. This strategic move, along with pond disinfection, has resulted in significant yields, causing many farmers to switch from wild black tiger shrimp to SPF whiteleg shrimp. Although vannamei shrimp farming initially proved to be very successful, it has been a victim of its own success – as growth led to oversupply and then falling prices in recent years.

This market shift, coupled with genetic advances, has sparked renewed interest in black tiger shrimp production, increasing from just over 500,000 tonnes in 2018 to a little over 600,000 tonnes in 2023.

What happened to black tiger shrimp in 2023?

Looking at statistics from 2023, Asia continues to be the leading black tiger shrimp producing region. Notably, Vietnam, China and Indonesia stand out as the top 3 producers, alongside significant contributions from Myanmar, Bangladesh and the Philippines.

Quarterly data shows output typically peaks in the second quarter, but there are some differences between countries. For example, Vietnam peaked production in Q1, due to relatively dry weather at this time of year, creating more stable farming conditions and farmers trying to harvest during Tet due to strong local demand. trend increases during this period. Meanwhile, China's black tiger shrimp production peaked in the third quarter, as disease incidence in white shrimp increased during this time of year, leading many farmers to switch to seasonal white shrimp.

Despite steady increases in production, global black tiger shrimp sales grow more slowly, reaching 122,000 tons LSE in 2023, up from approximately 100,000 tons in 2019. While Vietnam leads exports of black tiger shrimp in the Historically, India replaced them in 2022 and 2023 – marking a significant change. This transition coincided with India's increased production capacity and relatively narrow domestic market for black tiger shrimp, leading the country to focus on export markets. In essence, renewed interest in black tiger shrimp farming, coupled with evolving market dynamics and changing export patterns, paints a dynamic portrait of the global shrimp industry landscape.

In India, the initial transition from black tiger shrimp to whiteleg shrimp farming in the late 1990s proved smooth for many farmers, contributing to the country's remarkable success in opening expand the volume of white leg shrimp production. However, across Asia, including India, the success of vannamei shrimp farming tends to be cyclical.

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated these challenges, with the cost of feed, fuel, electricity and freight rising sharply alongside falling farmgate prices, significantly reducing margins. profits for farmers. In India, farmers outside of Andhra Pradesh face rising prices for essential inputs such as seeds, feed and transportation, causing many to consider returning to profitable black tiger shrimp farming. higher profits.

A look at the market

According to Dr. Sharma, India's efforts to strengthen the domestic shrimp market are facing many challenges due to limited consumer understanding. If India sees increased domestic consumption, whiteleg shrimp is expected to lead the way, while black tiger shrimp may remain a niche product for those who can afford it. As a result, while many farmers seem eager to switch to black tiger shrimp farming, Dr. Sharma advises against making the switch hastily.

According to Dr. Sharma, the return of black tiger shrimp will face challenges related to science and the market. On the latter issue, he emphasized the need for farmers to collectively spend more money to promote their products beyond traditional export markets such as the US, China and the EU, with a particular focus on Asian market.

Looking ahead, industry experts predict a revival of black tiger shrimp, evidenced by the growth of the black tiger shrimp broodstock market. This trend is expected to reduce shrimp seed prices and improve available supply, encouraging farmers to return to black tiger shrimp farming. While 2024 may not see double-digit growth, countries like India and China are poised to expand. The exact source of this growth – whether there are more black tiger shrimp farmers or improved efficiency among existing producers – remains unclear.

Is expect shrimp seed prices to begin to decrease from May onwards, while the stock of shrimp seeds is also expected to improve in quality. Therefore, there are many compelling reasons for farmers to return to black tiger shrimp farming, potentially leading to increased black tiger shrimp farming in the second crop of the year. However, the total production of black tiger shrimp in the year will also depend on the price achieved in the first half of the year for black tiger shrimp and whiteleg shrimp.

Source: Stockfile FIS

Our forecast suggests that while there will not be double-digit increases in 2024, growth is likely in countries such as India and China, while many other key manufacturing nations expected to maintain similar levels or even decline slightly.

Fuente: Vasep (Traducido del original en vietnamita)

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