TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Honduran shrimp farmers are seeking a government bailout as they have seen sales drop following Tegucigalpa's switch of diplomatic relations from Taipei to Beijing.
The Association of Small and Medium Aquaculture Farmers of Honduras (Apemasur) recently sought assistance from their government, hoping to secure up to US$350 million (NT$11.37 billion) in relief funds to help shrimp farmers overcome the sudden loss in business, reported Mirror Media. The market for Honduran white shrimp has suffered severely in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year, primarily due to Honduras establishing diplomatic relations with China, resulting in the loss of Taiwan, a significant market.
According to Honduran government data, the primary export regions for Honduran-farmed white shrimp were as follows: 33% to Taiwan, 30% to Mexico, and 25% to Europe. However, after Honduras established ties with China in March last year, Taipei increased tariffs, causing Honduran white shrimp exports to Taiwan to decline sharply.
In addition, Mexico's policy of temporarily suspending the import of Central and South American white shrimp that began in January has further exacerbated the situation, leading to the sudden loss of two major markets.
A report by the National Aquaculturists Association of Honduras (Andah) shows that in the first five months of this year, the export volume of white shrimp was 26,473,782 pounds, compared to 32,677,892 pounds during the same period last year, a decrease of about 19%. The Honduran government is in talks with China to boost white shrimp purchases.
Honduran media is concerned that China's purchase volume will be limited and that the prices will not be better than those from Taiwan, according to Mirror Media.
Apemasur Chair Wilmer Cruz said this is a difficult time for Honduran shrimp farmers. He hoped the government would provide the relief funds and expressed gratitude to the National Bank for Agricultural Development (BANADESA) for offering financial assistance.
