Thailand’s shrimp industry says new US tariff measures will not significantly affect exports, with farmers confident production will rebound to more than 400,000 tonnes this year. The announcement comes after the United States imposed a 15% tariff combined with a 2.01% anti-dumping duty, bringing the total rate on Thai shrimp to 17.01%. Industry leaders say the rate remains competitive compared with other major exporting countries. Get today's headlines by email Ekaphot Yodpinij, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said the sector is showing clear signs of recovery in 2026 despite uncertainty in global trade policies. He said Thailand aims to push shrimp exports beyond 250,000 tonnes this year if overall production can exceed 400,000 tonnes. “Early in the year we learned the US tariff rate would be 15% for everyone, and with the latest anti-dumping duty of 2.01%, Thai shrimp exports to the US face a total tariff of 17.01%,” Ekaphot said. He added that although the rate is close to that applied to other countries, Thailand still enjoys the lowest combined rate among key competitors. According to industry figures, Indonesia faces a tariff rate of 18.78%, Ecuador between 15% and 28.75%, Vietnam 22.42%, and India 24.58%. However, the private sector cautions that US tariff policy remains closely tied to decisions by the US president and could change at any time. The current tariff framework is expected to remain in place for roughly 150 days. Another positive factor is rising shrimp production, with farmers reportedly increasing the release of shrimp larvae by more than 50% in the first quarter compared with the same period last year. The increase follows improved confidence in both export and domestic market demand. Despite forecasts of a super El Niño bringing hotter and drier weather this year, Ekaphot believes the conditions could benefit shrimp farming more than cold or rainy weather. He said warmer conditions may help reduce the risk of supply shortages. Industry leaders also emphasised that Thailand has diversified its export markets and no longer depends heavily on the US. In the past, the US accounted for around 60% of Thai shrimp exports, but its share has fallen to about 20%. Other key markets now include Japan and China at roughly 20% each, with ASEAN countries and domestic consumption together accounting for around 20–25%. The Thai Shrimp Association plans to submit a letter to the prime minister soon, urging the government to declare shrimp a national agenda item. The proposal calls for support to address shrimp diseases and increase production capacity through 11 previously proposed measures. The association also wants the government to accelerate negotiations on free trade agreements with the European Union, Canada and South Korea. Thailand once exported as much as 60,000 tonnes of shrimp annually to Europe before losing its GSP tariff privileges, which reduced exports to just 200 tonnes. The Standard reported that if a free trade agreement with the EU is achieved, exports could recover to 30,000–40,000 tonnes per year, according to the association. Ekaphot also highlighted Thailand’s strength in producing shrimp free from antibiotic residues, noting that farmers test 100% of production to maintain buyer confidence. Picture courtesy of The Standard Join the discussion? Already a member? Adapted by ASEAN Now TheStandard 17 Mar 2026
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