Frozen Shrimp Price Overview — FOB Thailand, May 2026
Thailand remains one of the world's most important frozen shrimp export hubs, supplying vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) and black tiger prawns to markets across the EU, US, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia. This page provides current indicative FOB Bangkok pricing for the most commonly traded sizes and product forms, updated monthly by the Hanuman Seafood export team.
All prices below are indicative, net weight, FOB Bangkok or Laem Chabang port. Actual quotations depend on quantity, certification requirements, packaging specification, and prevailing market conditions. Request a live quotation for binding pricing on your specific requirements.
Vannamei Shrimp Prices by Size (FOB Thailand, May 2026)
Vannamei (Litopenaeus vannamei) is the dominant traded shrimp species globally and Thailand's primary aquaculture export. Prices are quoted by count per pound (HLSO basis) or count per kilogram depending on the product form.
HOSO (Head-On, Shell-On) — Vannamei
| Size (count/kg) | Approx. Count/lb | FOB Price (USD/kg) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20/30 | ~21/25 | $4.50 – $5.80 | Asian wet markets, BBQ, whole-prawn presentation |
| 30/40 | ~26/30 | $3.80 – $5.00 | General retail, catering, buffet |
| 40/50 | ~31/40 | $3.20 – $4.30 | Budget catering, bulk foodservice, mixed seafood dishes |
| 50/60 | ~41/50 | $2.80 – $3.80 | Value segment, institutional catering, processed products |
HLSO (Headless, Shell-On) — Vannamei IQF
| Size (count/lb) | FOB Price (USD/kg) | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|
| 21/25 | $6.50 – $8.50 | Premium retail, Japanese market (ebi), EU retail packs |
| 26/30 | $5.50 – $7.20 | Standard retail, food service, EU/US distributor |
| 31/40 | $4.80 – $6.20 | High-volume food service, quick service restaurants |
| 41/50 | $4.00 – $5.50 | Mass market catering, value retail, portion packs |
PD / PUD (Peeled & Deveined / Peeled Undeveined) — Vannamei IQF
| Size (count/lb) | FOB Price (USD/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 21/25 | $9.00 – $12.00 | Premium ready-to-cook; highest margin per kg for value-add buyers |
| 26/30 | $7.50 – $9.80 | Standard PD grade; high demand in US, EU, Middle East |
| 31/40 | $6.50 – $8.50 | Volume PD; most common food service size |
| 41/50 | $5.50 – $7.20 | Budget PD; industrial processing and value food service |
PD pricing reflects higher processing labor cost versus HLSO. PDTO (Peeled, Deveined, Tail-On) adds approximately $0.80–$1.50/kg to PD pricing in equivalent sizes.
Black Tiger Prawn Prices (FOB Thailand, May 2026)
Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) commands a significant premium over vannamei due to lower farmed volumes, larger achievable size, more distinctive flavor, and strong market demand in premium segments. Thai black tiger is particularly prized in Japan, the EU premium foodservice sector, Australia, and Middle East luxury hospitality.
| Product Form / Size | FOB Price (USD/kg) | Premium vs Vannamei | Key Markets |
|---|---|---|---|
| HOSO U/10 (per lb) | $14.00 – $20.00 | +80–120% | Japan, EU premium, Middle East hospitality |
| HOSO 13/15 | $10.00 – $14.00 | +60–80% | Japan, Australia, EU premium restaurant |
| HLSO 16/20 | $8.00 – $11.50 | +50–70% | EU premium retail, US specialty, Japan |
| HLSO 21/25 | $7.00 – $10.00 | +40–55% | EU retail, Middle East, specialty Asian retail |
| PD 21/25 (IQF) | $11.00 – $15.00 | +40–60% | Premium foodservice, high-end retail |
| PDTO 16/20 (IQF) | $13.00 – $18.00 | +50–70% | Premium tempura, cocktail, fine dining plated |
Key Price Drivers in 2026
Frozen shrimp prices are influenced by a combination of supply, demand, currency, and geopolitical factors. The following are the primary drivers affecting FOB Thailand prices in 2026:
- Thai domestic production volumes: Thailand's farmed vannamei production has stabilized following disease challenges of earlier years. Steady pond yields support competitive FOB pricing. Any uptick in EMS (Early Mortality Syndrome) or white spot disease outbreaks can tighten supply quickly and push prices up 10–20% within weeks.
- Ecuador competition: Ecuador has grown to become the world's largest shrimp exporter, supplying large volumes of vannamei at competitive pricing to China, the EU, and the US. Ecuadorian supply pressure keeps Thai vannamei FOB prices competitive, particularly in the 31/40 and 41/50 size segments where Ecuador has volume advantage.
- China import demand: China is the world's largest shrimp import market. When Chinese buying is strong — particularly pre-Chinese New Year and Golden Week — it absorbs regional supply and pushes FOB prices across Southeast Asia. 2026 has seen sustained Chinese demand, supporting mid-tier pricing levels.
- THB/USD exchange rate: Thai Baht fluctuations directly impact USD-denominated FOB pricing. A stronger Baht reduces Thai exporters' competitiveness against Ecuador and India; a weaker Baht opens margin. Monitor the THB/USD rate alongside FOB quotes.
- Energy and feed costs: Shrimp feed (soybean meal, fishmeal, energy inputs) and pond energy costs remain elevated post-2022 inflation. These input costs set a floor on sustainable FOB pricing regardless of market supply conditions.
- Cold storage availability and freight rates: Refrigerated container rates and cold storage availability in Thailand affect the cost of holding inventory. Tight reefer container supply (as seen in 2021–2022) can add $200–$500/container to total landed cost.
Thailand vs. Other Origins — Price Comparison
| Origin | Vannamei 31/40 HLSO (USD/kg) | Strengths | Considerations |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | $4.80 – $6.20 | Premium certifications (BRC AA, BAP 4-star), EU approval, quality consistency, documentation | Higher labor costs than Ecuador/India for commodity grades |
| Ecuador | $3.80 – $5.00 | Lowest FOB pricing; very high volumes; strong in China and EU commodity segment | Longer transit to EU/US; less processing depth; newer certification base |
| India | $4.20 – $5.50 | High volume; competitive pricing; large PD capacity | US antibiotic testing scrutiny history; transit times for EU |
| Vietnam | $5.00 – $6.50 | Strong value-added processing; competitive in PD and PDTO | Higher FOB for raw commodity; strong in cooked/processed |
| Indonesia | $4.50 – $6.00 | Growing vannamei capacity; competitive pricing; black tiger availability | More fragmented supplier base; documentation can vary |
For buyers who prioritize certifications, consistent quality, and full documentation support — particularly for EU, UK, Japanese, and US retail supply chains — Thailand's premium justifies the FOB price difference versus Ecuador or India for most SKU categories.
Buying Strategy Recommendations for 2026
- Lock in Q3/Q4 prices now: With Chinese demand sustained and Thai production volumes steady but not oversupplied, prices in H2 2026 are unlikely to fall significantly from current levels. Buyers who fix forward contracts now protect against seasonal price increases leading into Q4.
- Size up for margin: The price spread between 41/50 and 26/30 HLSO vannamei is approximately $1.50–$2.00/kg FOB. In consumer markets where the retail price differential between sizes is compressed, sourcing 26/30 rather than 41/50 delivers meaningfully better plate cost and better consumer experience.
- Consider PD over HLSO for food service: Labor costs in destination markets (EU, US, Japan) make HLSO shrimp increasingly uncompetitive for food service. PD/PDTO adds $2–4/kg FOB but removes all kitchen labor for peeling — often cost-neutral or positive at food service margins.
- Dual-source Thailand + Ecuador: For buyers in the 31/40–41/50 size range at volume, dual-sourcing Thai product for certification-sensitive channels and Ecuadorian product for commodity channels optimizes blended cost without compromising compliance.
- Request samples before committing volume: Quality between Thai suppliers varies significantly at equivalent FOB prices. Request IQF samples of your target size and form before placing container-load orders. Hanuman Seafood ships samples to qualified buyers prior to first order.
Request Current Pricing
Prices update monthly and move with market conditions. For a current, binding FOB quotation covering your specific size requirements, product forms, certifications, and destination port, contact the Hanuman Seafood export team. We respond within 24 hours with a full price list and available certification documentation.
Browse our full range of frozen shrimp products including vannamei, black tiger, and value-added product forms available for immediate quotation.
