Mexico has made a decision to halt the entry of shrimp products from countries that are signatories to the Free Trade Agreement between Mexico and Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua. The directive, outlined in a statement, explicitly states that all borders, whether by air, land, or sea, will remain closed temporarily to shrimp imports from these nations.

Certification Requirement

In addition to the border closure, the Mexican authorities have instructed the Ministry of Economy, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, and SENASICA to implement a rigorous certification process for shrimp farms in the aforementioned countries. This certification is aimed at ensuring the quality and origin of the shrimp being imported into Mexico.

Honduras’ Role in the Shrimp Trade

Honduras has played a significant role in the shrimp trade with Mexico, and this border closure will have notable implications for both countries. According to ANDAH figures, Mexico has been a vital market for Honduran shrimp farming, with approximately 14 percent of the total shrimp exports from the southern region being destined for Mexico in 2022. In that year, Honduras exported 9,586,626 pounds of shrimp to its North American neighbor.

Triangulation of Shrimp

The decision to temporarily close borders to Honduran shrimp imports comes after Mexican authorities raised concerns about potential shrimp triangulation involving Honduras and Ecuador. Since October 2023, Mexican officials have been monitoring the situation closely.