Undercurrent News aims to provide accurate, transparent price assessments for the shrimp market. These assessments will reflect key market trends and offer clarity for buyers, sellers, traders, and other participants within the supply chain.

All assessments listed here follow follow the IOSCO-aligned Undercurrent News Price Reporting Methodology, which provides transparency and clarity on data collection, pricing criteria, and assessment processes. For more details, please refer to our methodology principles.

Our methodologies are updated periodically to reflect the latest market standards and practices. When changes are made, subscribers will be informed through our regular publications and communications. Our market reporting team can address questions or provide additional guidance on methodology details or assessment-related inquiries. They can be contacted at [email protected].

 

Product Coverage and Specifications

Overview

Our shrimp market assessments cover various categories and product types, sourced globally. Products are categorized by species, processing type, and origin, providing detailed and segmented price reporting.

Categories

 

Pricing Basis and Volume

Pricing Structure

  • Frozen Products: Prices are listed as ex-warehouse, representing the cost of goods available at the seller’s warehouse.

Transaction Size

All prices reflect less-than-truckload (LTL) volumes, which aligns with industry norms and provides a realistic picture of market values. Prices are stated in $/lb, the standard unit for shrimp pricing.

 

Hierarchy of Data Collection for Price Assessments

Our methodology prioritizes data to ensure accuracy and market reflection:

  • Verified Transactions: Independent, confirmed trades are prioritized to form the basis of our assessments.
  • Market Bids and Offers: Validated bids and offers open to the market are considered.
  • Supplementary Market Information includes relevant data on trends, related product relationships, and general market activity.
  • Participant Price Evaluations: Where needed, we use general indications from experienced market participants to supplement transactional data.

Quotation Timing and Frequency

Publication Schedule

Shrimp prices are updated and published weekly on Wednesdays at noon EST to capture timely and accurate market shifts.

Daily Data Collection Window

Data is gathered daily from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, capturing current trading information to feed into upcoming assessments.

 

Terminology and Definitions

Key Terms

  • Block Frozen: product form where multiple shrimp are frozen together.
  • Count size: 2-4, 4-6, …, 100-200, number of shrimp per pound, or kilogram where noted.
  • Ex-warehouse: International trade (INCO) term where seller makes product available at a designated location (warehouse), and the buyer is responsible for the transportation costs.
  • Head-On, Shell-On (HOSO): Shrimp with the head and shell still on. 
  • Headless, Shell-On (HLSO): Shrimp with the head removed but retaining the shell, a common format in the frozen shrimp market.
  • Individually Quick Frozen (IQF): shrimp are frozen individually before being placed in box or bag.
  • Peeled and Deveined, Tail-On (PDTO): Shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and retains the tail, commonly used in food service and retail.
  • Peeled and Deveined, Tail-Off (PDTOF): Shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and does not have a tail, ideal for recipes requiring fully peeled shrimp.
  • Cooked, Peeled, Tail-On (CPTO): shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and cooked, and retains the tail. 
  • Cooked, Peeled, Tail-Off (CPO): shrimp that has been peeled, deveined, and cooked, and does not have a tail. 
  • Easy Peel: Shrimp with a slit shell to simplify peeling, often retaining the head.
  • LTL (Less-Than-Truckload): A standard transaction size in the seafood industry, enabling multiple smaller shipments to share transportation costs, which aligns with realistic market values.