The local shrimp industry remains in the doldrums this year because of persistent diseases and unfavourable weather.
Ekapoj Yodpinit, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, said on Wednesday the country's overall shrimp production is expected to stay at 280,000 tonnes, on par with the previous year.
Production from the upper southern region is expected to account for 32% of this year's output, with the eastern region making up 25%, the lower southern region on the Andaman Coast 21%, the lower southern region on the Gulf of Thailand 10%, and the central region 12%.
Global shrimp production is projected to grow by 11% this year to 4.8 million tonnes, with countries in Central and South America expected to churn out higher shrimp output than last year.
Production from Central and South American countries is expected to rise by 22% this year to 1.83 million tonnes from 1.53 million tonnes in 2021.
Higher production is also anticipated from the Philippines, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and China.
According to Mr Ekapoj, Thailand's shrimp exports between January and October this year tallied 122,208 tonnes, down 5% from 128,758 tonnes in the same period last year, with an export value of 42.8 billion baht, up 9% over last year.
Key export markets include Asia, especially China and Japan, the US, the EU and Australia.
"Early in the year, the association and partners in shrimp and related industries called on the agriculture and cooperatives minister as well as the prime minister to help upgrade shrimp production as a national agenda item, formulating guidelines for the development of the aquaculture industry to ensure sustainability for the country. Given a spate of limitations, shrimp diseases still persist, creating massive damage to the overall industry," he said.
"The association would like to propose all political parties prioritise the Thai shrimp industry, which generated nearly 100 billion baht a year in the past decade and engaged more than 1 million entrepreneurs and households."
A worker prepares shrimp at a factory in Songkhla province. WICHAN CHAROENKIATPAKUL