The Thai shrimp industry is grappling with significant challenges, including adverse climate conditions and Malaysia’s recent suspension of imports, according to a member of the Thai Shrimp Association.
Total shrimp production in Thailand was estimated at 820,000 tons in 2025, according to the group. This year, production is forecast to be lower, with initial product losses estimated at 5,000 tons due to Malaysia’s temporary ban on Thai shrimp imports. The industry is currently dealing with severe weather conditions, including flooding in central and eastern provinces that has severely damaged shrimp farms.
Additional diseases affecting the industry include early mortality syndrome and white spot disease. Some shrimp farmers continue to report disease problems, facing challenges with white spot syndrome. Warathit Pipat, a committee member of the association and also the general secretary of the Thai Shrimp Alliance, stated that water temperatures exceeding 33°C cause shrimp to grow slowly but eat more, while temperatures around 28°C can promote the growth of white spot disease. Fluctuating weather patterns have affected shrimp growth and contributed to the spread of diseases.
Compounding these serious issues, Malaysia suspended shrimp imports from Thailand in June, a move that, combined with low global prices, is pushing down Thai shrimp prices and causing financial losses for some farmers. Some farmers are postponing their new production cycles due to concerns about the risk of losses.
Meanwhile, the National Science and Technology Development Agency is organizing the “Hub of Shrimp” hackathon to strengthen Thailand’s shrimp industry across farming, harvesting, sales, and marketing. The application period for this program runs until today, October 15th, and is open to college students, researchers, and startups. Warathit Pipat said that stakeholders across the shrimp supply chain require different solutions, including developing shrimp breeds that can withstand changing weather and disease outbreaks, as well as improving disease management.