With a production volume of 14,000 MT in 2016, Madagascar is one of the smallest producers of shrimp in the world. Despite this, the organically produced Malagasy Giant Tiger shrimp is well known for its high quality and unique taste, making it a desirable product, especially for the European market. The country is the largest exporter of shrimp in Africa and, as the local demand for a product as costly as shrimp is limited, more than 60% (8,500 MT) of the total production was exported in 2016. Production from wild capture make up for nearly 70% of the total production volume and has been steadily increasing for the past few years. Although farmed shrimp only counted for 3,500 MT in 2015, statistics from 2016 indicate that the sector is starting to recover from the outbreak of the White Spot syndrome in 2011 by presenting a production increase of 20%. The sector is developing and Madagascar is considered to be the leading country in shrimp aquaculture in Africa. Even though the environmental conditions are favorable for expanding the aquaculture sector, other factors such as the rising of costs, energy and fishmeal, and limited infrastructure, serve as obstacles for a significant expansion to take place in the near future. Despite this, the aquaculture sector will keep focusing on improving the existing niche market to offer high-quality shrimp, produced in a sustainable, environmental friendly and social responsible manner for the international market.
The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) alleges that both Unima founder and his son set up offshore companies to avoid paying taxes in Madagascar. Both WWF and ASC have ties to Unima, but release…
Are we in sight of the end of the dropping shrimp prices? It would be a welcome relief for many producers and exporters around the world.
Villagers in Madagascar work towards replanting areas of destroyed mangrove forests. With rising sea levels and ecosystem protection, the WWF helps the Malagasy protect the mangroves to protect the future.
Source: FAO (2018)
In 2008 several factors, such as rising costs, declining shrimp prices and damages caused by a tsunami in 2008, resulted in a remarkable decrease in the production volume from both shrimp fisheries and aquaculture. As both sectors were still
recovering from the tsunami damage, White Spot Syndrome Virus was detected in Mozambique in 2011, which spread rapidly to farms in Madagascar. Both sectors were affected, but wild capture production quickly recovered.
The effects on the production volumes of the aquaculture sector lasted longer as several farms were affected all of them having to drain all of their ponds. The sector had to adapt and farms had to invest to improve their bio security. 2014 and 2015 represent transition years, but numbers from 2016 (4,200 MT) indicate that the sector is recovering. Whether production will reach its pre-2008 levels (8,000 MT) depends on several internal factors, but also the demand from the international market, as the growth is almost entirely dependent on exports and local demand is limited.
What is for sure is that the aquaculture sector will continue developing better methods to offer the international market high quality and sustainablly produced shrimp.
Source: Trade Map (2018), International Trade Centre, intracen.org
Due to consequences of the crisis in 2008 and the white spotted syndrome, the quantity exported between 2008-2015 decreased significantly, but 2016 and 2017 figures
indicate that better times are ahead for the industry.
The EU market is by far the most important market for Malagasy shrimp making up to nearly 86% (7,800 MT) in 2017. In addition to enjoying a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, the French market's desire for the organic Malagasy Giant Tiger Shrimp makes France the main export destination. In 2017, 78% of shrimp being exported from Madagascar went to France alone. Other important European countries are Portugal and Spain. China entered the Malagasy shrimp market in 2014. After a Memorandum of Understanding that governed shrimp export to the Chinese market was signed, the export of shrimp has gone from 200 MT in 2013 to nearly 1200 MT in 2017.
In terms of pricing, the shrimp industry in Madagascar has yet to overcome some challenges before it can compete with Asian countries. Therefore, the Malagasy shrimp industry currently focuses on offering high-quality shrimp instead of quantity.
Source: Trade Map (2018), International Trade Centre, intracen.org
As the graph clearly illustrates, the preferred export form of shrimp from Madagascar is frozen (9,158 MT). As found on the product list on one of the biggest shrimp exporters in
Madagascar, OSO group, several variants of this product group are offered. Cultured HOSO shrimp, in the sizes 15/20, 30/35 and 40/60, is packed in units from 320 to 800 grams. Raw body peeled frozen shrimp (30/40, 25/30) and raw skewer frozen shrimp (40/50) is also offered in this product group. Frozen wild shrimp is mostly exported HOSO, in 20/30 or 40/60 sizes, and packed in units of 320 grams.
In 2017, only 6 MT prepared or preserved shrimp in airtight containers was exported. This product was only exported to France.
Last updated: 01/06/2018
| # Farms | 1 |
| # Farms in assessment | 0 |
| # CoC partners | 1 |
| Total Volume (MT) | 3,108 |
Most farm use a breeding system with pumping, but without aeration. In order to offer organic and high quality shrimp, farms operate with a stocking density of 5-8 PL/m2. The shrimps are farmed for six months.
All industrial farms have their own hatchery to produce post-larvae. Feed is the most expense input, as most of the feed is imported. Several farms consider incorporating a feed mill into their production system and research on how to substitute in these feeds is in progress.
Two of the biggest producers, who also have their own processing plants, are Unima and OSO Group. The majority of shrimp farming takes place in the Mahajanga and Ambilobe regions, the north-west part of Madagascar. All farms are free enterprises, and most of them are members of the GAPCM association.
The large industrial farms are vertically integrated, so no traders are involved in the process. Shrimp are harvested and transferred to the processing plant in less than an hour, in temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius.
The largest industrial farms have their own plant for processing and packaging. All of these factories are licensed, and thereby allowed to export their products to EU and Asian countries. There are 25 EU approved processing establishments, of which, 5 are allowed to export aquaculture products.
Since the FTA with the EU, most of the companies exporting shrimp have established their own distribution network in the European market. Since April 2017, all shrimp from Madagascar is sold with the label "Madagascar Shrimp", to characterize the Malagasy shrimp as a product of excellence in the international shrimp market.
Click on the species and find out more about the species in Madagascar
You are reading the ShrimpTails magazine for free. Please leave us your e-mail and name so we can keep you posted on ShrimpTails and STIP news.
