Diversification and Competitiveness Patterns in International Shrimp and Prawn Trade: Evidence from Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia

This study aimed to jointly characterize destination diversification and revealed competitiveness in the international shrimp and prawn trade of Ecuador, India, Vietnam, and Indonesia during 2020–2024. A quantitative, descriptive–comparative approach was applied using annual free-on-board values at the exporter–destination level obtained from Trade Map (International Trade Centre). Destination diversification was proxied by the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index, while market-level competitiveness was measured through the Normalized Revealed Comparative Advantage index. Results show that Ecuador expanded exports while maintaining persistently high destination concentration. India exhibited broad revealed comparative advantage across multiple markets, yet remained highly concentrated, with episodes of deconcentration that were not sustained. Vietnam recorded relative stagnation, moderate concentration, and heterogeneous competitiveness across destinations. Indonesia experienced contraction with extremely high concentration, characterized by a pronounced advantage in the United States alongside disadvantages in alternative markets. Overall, a positive NRCA did not necessarily coincide with a low HHI, and configurations in which revealed advantage is concentrated in a small set of anchor markets are associated with higher exposure and may entail more limited reorientation options under shocks.