Mon Apr 07 00:26:00 UTC 2025: ## Andhra Pradesh Shrimp Farmers Face Losses After US Tariff Hike
**Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh – April 7, 2025** – A surge in seafood supply and a significant price drop have hit Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp farmers hard following a recent US tariff hike on seafood exports. Markets across the state, including Vijayawada, Eluru, Bhimavaram, and Machilipatnam, are overflowing with shrimp and other seafood as farmers scramble to sell their produce domestically to avoid substantial losses.
The US tariff increase has effectively halted exports, leading to a glut in the local market. Consumers are benefiting from lower prices, with 80-count shrimp selling for ₹180-₹200 per kg and 60-70 count shrimp fetching ₹225-₹250 per kg. However, farmers are facing significant financial hardship.
Many farmers are selling directly to consumers to minimize losses, while others are forced to sell to middlemen at reduced prices. One farmer, Srikanth of Eluru district, reported significant losses due to the inability to export his Vannamei shrimp crop. An export agent highlighted the panic among farmers and exporters due to the sudden halt in exports and the perishable nature of the seafood. The situation underscores the vulnerability of Andhra Pradesh’s seafood industry to international trade fluctuations.
First Piper 