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CHINA - China is changing from a net shrimp exporter to a net importer; more than 80 per cent of Vannamei farmed in China is now consumed domestically.

The world's production of shrimp expanded 10-fold from 1995 to 2005. Notably, the growth has been conspicuous in China.

Most of the shrimp produced in China are directed to domestic consumption. But, on top of that, imports of shrimp have been on the increase too, backed by the nation's smooth economic growth. Market analysts predict that imports will continue to rise in the years ahead.

Chinese production of Vannamei accelerated in 2000 and now 90 per cent of shrimp farms here culture the species. The sector has seen phenomenal growth in a relatively short time - productivity is reaching near on one million tons a year, which accounts for half of the world's total production. Just over 800,000 tons are now directed to the domestic market.

China's shrimp imports have crept up steadily since the first half of the 1990s, with the proportion of imports to exports changing noticeably in 2002. Imports expanded in line with the country's economic growth, driven on since 2001 by the prospect of the Beijing Olympic Games. The 2008 Games are likely to push the market further.
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Source: TheFishSite News Desk