India Holds US Shrimp Lead as Container Rates Ease
Published 13 October 2026
India stayed the largest US shrimp supplier, Thai rice prices firmed, Vietnam's rice export value fell, container rates eased over Golden Week and the US port fee pause awaits action.
Seafood
India Remains Top Shrimp Supplier to the US
India was the largest source of US shrimp imports in August for the second month running, Undercurrent News reported on 6 October. Shipments from India reached 33,376 tonnes worth USD 281.8 million, about 22% more in both volume and value than July's 27,282 tonnes and USD 231.3 million. In a separate report on 8 October, the same publisher noted that Indian shrimp still faces the risk of further US tariffs.
Sources: Undercurrent News · Undercurrent News
Commodities
Thai Rice Prices Firm on Flood Concerns
Thai 5% broken rice was quoted at USD 465–468 per tonne in the week to 9 October, up from USD 460 a week earlier, as traders cited flooding concerns, according to a Reuters market report carried by Business Recorder. Indian 5% broken parboiled was unchanged at USD 378–384, near a one-year high, as a weaker rupee offset higher paddy costs. Indian traders said some buyers were delaying purchases because of higher freight costs.
Sources: Business Recorder (Reuters)
Commodities
Vietnam Rice Export Value Falls 10.9% in Nine Months
Vietnam exported 6.4 million tonnes of rice worth USD 3.11 billion in January to September, down 6.1% in volume and 10.9% in value year on year, the Vietnam News Agency reported on 6 October. The Ministry of Agriculture and Environment put the average export price at USD 484.8 per tonne, 5.1% lower. The Philippines took 40.9% of shipments, with value down 16.8%; China rose to second with 17.4%, its value up 76%.
Sources: Vietnam+ (Vietnam News Agency)
Freight
Drewry Index Eases 2% Over Golden Week
Drewry's World Container Index fell 2% to USD 4,351 per 40ft container in its 8 October assessment, as China's Golden Week holiday weakened demand. Shanghai–Rotterdam slipped 2% to USD 3,337 and Shanghai–Los Angeles 3% to USD 7,624, while Shanghai–Genoa was unchanged at USD 3,696. Drewry noted that Asia–Europe rates have declined for 13 consecutive weeks and expects rates on both main east–west trades to hold broadly stable next week.
Sources: Global Trade Magazine · IndexBox
Freight
US Port Fee Pause Awaits Formal USTR Notice
The US–China trade truce, due to lapse on 10 November, has been extended to 10 January 2027, but the California Chamber of Commerce noted on 6 October that the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) must still publish a Federal Register notice to legally extend the pause on Section 301 port fees for China-built vessels. More than 200 trade associations have asked USTR to extend the suspension. Carriers serving US ports are watching for that notice.
Sources: California Chamber of Commerce