Leading Companies in the United States Shrimp Market, Driven by Shift in Consumer Preference Towards Sustainably Sourced Seafood

The United States shrimp market attained a volume of more than 807.67 KMT in the year 2023. The market is further expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.4% between 2024 and 2032 to attain a volume of almost 998.27 KMT by 2032. As per the analysis by Expert Market Research, the market is expected to be driven by the increasing popularity for convenient and value-added products.

Shrimp is considered the major seafood consumed in the United States, with 5.9 pounds of shrimp consumed per person in 2021. The consumption of shrimp accounts for 38% of the total annual seafood consumption in the country, which is more than canned tuna, tilapia, Alaska pollock, pangasius, cod, and crab combined.

The United States has an annual wild shrimp production of 150,000 mt. The common shrimps consumed, and domestic landings are White shrimp (Litopenaeus setiferus), brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) from the Gulf of Mexico, and ocean shrimp (Pandalus jordani) caught near Oregon. Shrimp imports are also a major contributor to the United States shrimp market development, with Mexican blue, white, and brown shrimp and Argentine red shrimp gaining popularity in US restaurants and supermarket chains respectively.

In February 2024, the United States imported 59,510 metric tons (MT), or 131 million pounds, of shrimp, an increase from the 52,889 MT, or 116.6 million pounds imported in February 2023. The major countries exporting shrimp to the US are India, Ecuador, Indonesia, Vietnam, Argentina, Mexico, Thailand etc. India exported 23,777 MT, or 52 million pounds, in February 2024, while Ecuador exported 16,911 MT, or 37 million pounds of shrimp to the U.S. during the same period.

Figure: United States Wild Shrimp Production (MT): 2023

Figure: U.S. States With the Most Aquaculture Production

As per the United States shrimp market analysis, the rising sustainability concerns contribute to the growth. The expansion of the shrimp sector in the United States using traditional practices is transitioning towards sustainable methods. Traditional practices are creating concerns about environmental pollution, disease transmission, and cost of production.  New production technologies such as biosecure production technologies are developed to rear shrimp under super-intensive conditions with minimal water use. Such technologies enable shrimp farmers in the United States to cultivate shrimp at inland locations away from sensitive coastal areas, and also with lowered environmental footprint.

In April 2023, Homegrown Shrimp USA opened its new shrimp farming facility in the United States. The recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) of the company produces Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei).

Top 4 Shrimp Companies in the United States:

Aqua Star

Aqua Star is a leader in frozen speciality seafood products and among the largest retail frozen seafood brands in North America. Aqua star is a privately owned company operating in 17 countries across the globe. The products of the company include shrimp, fish, crab, and speciality seafood. The company offers over 10 varieties of fish available as marinated, seared, breaded, battered or raw fillets. Aqua star provides shrimps in raw, cooked, shell-on and shell-off variations.

Harbor Seafood

Harbor Seafood provides high-quality seafood including fin-fish, shellfish, cephalopods, crab species and value added items. The company sources from a variety of locations such as Canada, South America, Asia, and Central America. The frozen or refrigerated seafood provided by the company include shrimps, clams, cold water lobster, mahi mahi, mussels, king crab, oysters, snow crab, squid, tuna, octopus, warm water lobster, etc.

Eastern Fish Company

Eastern Fish Company is a prominent importer and marketer of shrimp. The company has quality control offices in Thailand, Ecuador, China, and Mexico, as well as sales offices in California, Florida and Massachusetts. SAIL is a brand of Eastern Fish Company providing high-quality commodity seafood including shrimp, scallops, crab, lobster, tilapia, and squid. SAIL sources its products from over 14 locations around the globe under strict quality control.

Mazzetta Company, LLC

Mazzetta is a family-owned company engaged in procurement, quality assurance, storage and distribution of frozen seafood products. The company’s entire seafood production spans more than 900 individual GTIN. Mazzetta has facilities including the wharf holding facility, Atwood Lobster, the processing plant, Beach Point Processing, and the cold storage facility that we distribute out of, Londonderry Freezer Warehouse. The company offers seafoods such as shrimp, finfish, Atlantic salmon, sea cucumbers, and lobster.