Shrimp prices may rise on low output

THAILAND - The amount of shrimp produced by Thailand is likely to drop by 8% year-on-year to 350,000 tonnes due to floods and heavy rain late last year, according to the Thai Shrimp Association.

The association, which represents hundreds of shrimp farmers and exporters, also forecast that the country's shrimp exports would drop by about 11% to 250,000 tonnes this year.

However, they predicted that a decline in supply would push up prices and the export value of shrimp would rise to 86 billion baht, up 20% from 71.5 billion baht in 2005.

For instance, currently the price of a kilogramme containing 60 small shrimp is 140 baht, compared with 100 baht at the same time last year.

Source: Bangkok Post