The executive director of Honduras’s National Shrimp Farming Association (Andah), Javier Amador, has expressed serious concerns over the state of the country’s shrimp sector. Despite ongoing success in markets like Taiwan and Mexico, Amador lamented the absence of any shrimp exports to China.

Missed Opportunity with China

Amador emphasized the significant missed opportunity with China, as Honduras has not yet exported a single pound of shrimp to this major market. This stands in contrast to Nicaragua, which took over two years to make its first shipment to China due to challenges in securing favorable commercial terms and finding shrimp buyers in the Asian nation.

The termination of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Taiwan was highlighted as a regrettable development. This agreement previously provided preferential benefits to Honduran shrimp producers, yet its closure did not pave the way for new market openings.

Comparison with Mexico

Amador drew a comparison to a previous issue with Mexico in 2017, where the shrimp market was closed due to unsubstantiated health concerns, resulting in substantial losses for the industry. He suggested turning to the World Trade Organization (WTO) for resolution, similar to the successful approach taken to reopen the Mexican market previously.

Amador warned of potential catastrophic consequences for the shrimp sector if Taiwan and Mexico also close their markets. He estimated that if these closures occur, up to 70 percent of Honduras’ shrimp industry could face extinction. The current situation, allegedly stemming from judicial irregularities, threatens to further exacerbate these challenges, leaving the sector in a precarious position.