Sea food exporters hit following lower realisation, higher cost

The plunge in the average exports realisations for shrimps is hitting the bottom-line of the stakeholders across the supply chain associated with the USD five billion Indian seafood export market.

The export prices of shrimps, the key contributor to the country's seafood basket, have plunged by more than 20 per cent in past few months, due to increased supply from competing nations Vietnam, Thailand, Ecuador.

While the exporters are stating that there has been a sharp drop of two dollar per kg in prices of key verities compared to last year which is over 30 per cent.

One exporter on the condition of anonymity said for a particular grade of a shrimp the price is around $5.40 per kilogram of shrimp presently which 30 per cent lower than year and major fall was seen in last few months. Falling rupee has not been able to help much, said the exporter.

While the shrimp farmers, mainly in Andhra Pradesh, are forced to go for one crop against the normal practice of doing three crops annually spelling havoc for them, the feed suppliers will also experience the wrath of reduction in the crops. Hatchery owners are also likely to feel the hit.

"The export rates for Indian shrimps have noose dived by more than 20 per cent compared to last fiscal. The realisataion of exporters is likely to be impacted. Going forward it will be a downward base.

It won't be as good as it was in the last two years and will take time for demands to catch up. The vertically integrated player will definitely survive the present scenario", said a large exporter.

Exporters will witness a sharp reduction in the turnover this year, said another of official of another large exporting company.