The National Marine Fisheries Service of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on Monday, December 23, 2013 released preliminary landings data for November.
For the month, shrimp landings in the Gulf (10.7 million pounds) were equal to the average shrimp landings in the Gulf for the month of November over the previous six years (10.7 million pounds). NOAA’s reporting continues to indicate that the total annual harvest in Louisiana (54.3 million pounds) has been larger than any year since 2009 (55.5 million pounds) and remains eleven (11) percent higher than the average harvest during the six-year time period between 2007 and 2011 (43.7 million pounds). For the entire Gulf, the volume of shrimp landed is slightly lower (108.2 million pounds) than it was for the comparable period last year (109.8 million pounds), but slightly higher than the six-year average (106.6 million pounds).
Domestic production volumes consistent with those of last year are similar to volumes reported for imported shrimp through October. In 2013, official import statistics indicate that the United States has imported a total of 828.6 million pounds of frozen, non-breaded shrimp compared to 817.3 million pounds through the first ten months of 2012.
Nevertheless, although supply volumes of both domestic and imported shrimp have been strong, ex-vessel prices reported by NOAA continue to increase. Once again, the ex-vessel price for U15 shrimp was substantially higher in all regions (Eastern Gulf — $9.10/lb.; Northern Gulf — $8.75/lb.; Western Gulf — $10.50 per pound) than they were last year ($7.85; $6.10; $7.85, respectively), in 2011 ($7.85; $6.30; $7.10, respectively), in 2010 ($7.65; $6.00; $6.85, respectively) and 2009 ($5.80; $3.60; $5.95, respectively). The same trend is reported across count sizes, with the ex-vessel price for 36/40 count substantially higher in all regions (Eastern Gulf — $3.80/lb.; Northern Gulf — $3.80/lb.; Western Gulf — $4.30 per pound) than they were last year ($3.10; $2.65; $2.90, respectively), in 2011 ($2.55; $2.30; $3.00, respectively), in 2010 ($3.10; $2.40; $2.15, respectively) and 2009 ($1.90; $1.75; $1.50, respectively).