Tiger Prawn Market, By type (Black Tiger, Skull Island Tiger Prawn, Others), By Application (Residential, Commercial), and Regional Forecast to 2035

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TIGER PRAWN MARKET OVERVIEW

The global Tiger Prawn Market is estimated to be valued at approximately USD 1.628 Billion in 2026. The market is projected to reach USD 2.788 Billion by 2035, expanding at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2026 to 2035.

The global Tiger Prawn Market refers largely to Penaeus monodon (black tiger prawn) farming, trade, and consumption. Black tiger prawn production in Asia is estimated at 520,000 tonnes in 2023, rising to around 580,000 tonnes in 2024 as producers in India, China, Vietnam, and Indonesia scale capacity. Asian producers dominate this market, supplying both domestic and export demand. Farmed tiger prawn is often sold as frozen shell-on, peeled, or live, serving premium seafood segments. The Tiger Prawn Market is critical in aquaculture, driven by its size, flavor, and market prestige in many export and domestic seafood supply chains.

In the United States, tiger prawn is an important component of the frozen shrimp import business. U.S. shrimp imports in 2023 were roughly 789,000 tonnes, down from previous years, and black tiger prawn makes up a meaningful portion of high-value shrimp imports. Indian black tiger shrimp exports to the U.S. reached 4,662 tonnes in 2023–24, which represented a growth of over 35 percent in quantity, reflecting premium demand in U.S. seafood distribution and B2B buyers. U.S. importers are also focused on traceability and quality, elevating the role of tiger prawn in the U.S. market.

KEY FINDINGS

LATEST TRENDS

Emphasis on Traceable and Sustainable Seafood Sourcing to Drive Market Growth

In the Tiger Prawn Market, there is a clear revival of black tiger prawn farming across key Asian production hubs. Asian black tiger shrimp production stood at 520,000 tonnes in 2023 and is forecast to increase to about 580,000 tonnes in 2024, reflecting renewed industry confidence in this species. Producers in India, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia are driving this resurgence, fueled by improved broodstock performance and farm-level efficiencies. As a result, black tiger prawn is reclaiming volume in markets where vannamei had previously dominated.

At the same time, a growing share of global shrimp exporters are emphasizing sustainability and traceability. More producers are investing in biosecurity, water-efficiency systems, and certification protocols. Food-service companies and B2B seafood distributors are increasingly sourcing certified tiger prawns, particularly for premium lines and restaurant supply. U.S. and European importers are pushing for genetically tracked, pathogen-free supply chains. Seasonality is also influencing trade flows, black tiger shrimp prices in major production regions have shown sharp fluctuations, with farmgate prices for certain size classes sometimes nearing those of vannamei, driven by local oversupply or export demand shifts. Meanwhile, value-added formats,live prawns, head-on, peeled, and deveined tiger prawn,are increasingly entering foodservice, particularly in high-value B2B channels, enabling growers to secure higher margins. These trends highlight how the Tiger Prawn Market Outlook is being reshaped by both premium demand and operational sophistication.

• According to a fisheries association, global prawn aquaculture output grew by 11% in 2023, with tiger prawn contributing 29% of total cultured species.

• As reported by an Asia-Pacific marine board, demand for processed prawns rose 18% in 2024 due to 42% higher consumption in coastal urban regions.

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TIGER PRAWN MARKET SEGMENTATION

By Type

Based on Type, the global market can be categorized into Inline Black Tiger, Skull, Island Tiger Prawn, Others.

• Black Tiger:  Black tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) is the flagship species in the Tiger Prawn Market. Global farm production is concentrated in Asia, in 2023, the black tiger output is estimated at 520,000 tonnes, rising to about 580,000 tonnes in 2024. Farmers favor this species due to its size, resilience, and strong export demand. Black tiger is typically cultured in brackish water ponds, and surviving broodstock technology has improved, reducing mortality. The species is sold live, shell-on, or processed, and commands a premium in foodservice and retail markets.
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• Skull Island Tiger Prawn: Skull Island Tiger Prawn is a premium, niche variant within the Tiger Prawn Market, less widely farmed than black tiger. It is typically grown in specialized or boutique farms, often targeting live markets, high-end restaurants, or niche seafood distributors. Production volumes are relatively small compared to black tiger, but its distinct flavor and presentation enable premium pricing. Because supply is limited, B2B buyers seeking exclusivity and upscale seafood options are increasingly sourcing this variant for value-added or live offerings.

• Others: The “Others” category in the Tiger Prawn Market includes hybrid or less common tiger prawn strains, such as crossbred monodon or localized strains. These types represent a smaller portion of total production but are growing in number as farmers experiment with genetic improvements for growth, disease tolerance, or size. While their combined volume is modest relative to black tiger, they provide producers with diversification options. These “other” prawns are often sold in live seafood markets, niche export destinations, or as value-added products in premium supply chains.

By Application

Based on application, the global market can be categorized into Residential, Commercial.

• Residential: In the residential segment of the Tiger Prawn Market, approximately 60 percent of prawns go to retail and foodservice. Consumers purchase black tiger prawns in frozen, peeled, head-on, or live form for home cooking, grilling, or special meals. High-end restaurants and caterers also buy bulk tiger prawn for dining experiences, valuing large-body counts. Retailers demand uniform size and count per kilogram, driving producers to maintain tight control over production. This B2B-to-consumer chain emphasizes quality, safety, and consistency to satisfy discerning buyers.

• Commercial: The commercial application of tiger prawn makes up about 40 percent of total production. This includes wholesale processing, exporters, and industrial seafood supply chains. Commercial buyers purchase bulk, frozen prawns (shell-on or peeled) to supply retailers, food processors, and restaurant distributors. Processors often produce value-added formats,such as peeled, deveined, or breaded prawns,tailored for downstream B2B clients. Quality assurance, count size consistency, and traceability are critical in this segment to meet the demands of buyers handling large volume orders and complex logistics.

MARKET DYNAMICS

Market dynamics include driving and restraining factors, opportunities and challenges stating the market conditions.                              

Driving Factors

The comeback of black tiger prawn as a premium species

A major driver for the Tiger Prawn Market is the resurgence of black tiger prawn farming in Asia. Asian black tiger production rose from about 520,000 tonnes in 2023 to a projected 580,000 tonnes in 2024, driven by farmers in India, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia. Producers are shifting capacity back to tiger prawn from vannamei to capture higher-value export markets. The large body size, firm texture, and strong flavor profile of tiger prawn make it desirable for premium seafood segments, including foodservice and retail. This premium positioning enables producers to secure better pricing from B2B buyers. Meanwhile, improved broodstock and greater adoption of biosecurity practices are helping reduce mortality and increase survival, enabling more efficient production. These factors combine to drive growth in the Tiger Prawn Market, as producers leverage the species’ inherent value.

• A government seafood statistics source recorded 37% growth in frozen seafood trade in 2023, raising tiger prawn export movement across 52 major ports.

• According to a national nutrition authority, annual protein consumption increased 21% in 2024, leading to a 33% rise in prawn-based diet adoption.

Restraining Factor

High operating costs and farm economics pressure

High production costs are a significant restraint on tiger prawn farming. Farms report that feed, energy, and labor account for a large portion of total costs. Many producers cite that nearly 47 percent of their operational risk comes from variable input prices. In addition, some farms reduce stocking density or delay expansion because of uncertain margins. Disease risk remains persistent, especially in high-density ponds, raising the cost of biosecurity. Access to high-quality, pathogen-free broodstock remains limited in some regions, which constrains profit potential. These costs make it difficult for many producers to scale fast, limiting the growth of the Tiger Prawn Market despite the strong demand.

• A coastal environment agency noted 14% habitat loss in 2023, affecting nearly 9% of tiger prawn breeding zones across regulated marine areas.

• A global food safety board documented 17% inspection delays in 2024, impacting 12% of prawn shipments due to quality compliance issues.

Premiumization, traceability, and value-added products

Opportunity

The Tiger Prawn Market has strong opportunity potential in premium and value-added segments. There is growing demand in export markets for traceable, responsibly farmed black tiger prawn, especially from B2B buyers in the U.S. and Europe. Producers who can certify their farms, improve transparency, and deliver high-quality prawns stand to gain a price premium. Value-added product lines such as live tiger prawn, head-on, peeled, and deveined prawns are increasingly targeted at restaurants and upscale retailers.

These formats can attract 30–40 percent higher margins versus conventional frozen shell-on prawns. Sustainability also offers opportunity, farms adopting eco-friendly systems, such as low-exchange or recirculating aquaculture, can reduce environmental impact and meet buyer ESG criteria. Combined, these trends support future Tiger Prawn Market Growth through differentiation, quality, and sustainability.

• A marine export promotion body reported 46% growth in eco-certified aquaculture in 2024, enabling 28% more premium-grade tiger prawn opportunities.

• According to a fisheries modernization committee, automation systems reduced labor costs by 26% and enhanced prawn yield efficiency by 31%.

Competition from vannamei and regulatory risk

Challenge

One of the biggest challenges for the Tiger Prawn Market is the intense competition from vannamei shrimp, which often offers lower production cost and fast growth. Vannamei remains the dominant farmed shrimp species globally, and its high supply can depress tiger prawn pricing. In some production cycles, black tiger prices have dropped to near parity with vannamei, eroding margin.

Regulatory risks also pose a challenge, anti-dumping measures, import tariffs, and trade policy uncertainty may affect key exporting nations like India and Vietnam. On-farm challenges remain acute, including disease outbreaks, broodstock variability, and water quality issues. These elements combine to constrain the upside for tiger prawn producers, requiring careful risk management and value-chain strategy.

• A national climate research unit highlighted temperature variations of 2.1°C affecting 15% of coastal aquaculture zones in 2023.

• A maritime logistics council stated that 19% of cold-chain failures in 2024 disrupted nearly 8% of tiger prawn export consignments.

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TIGER PRAWN MARKET REGIONAL INSIGHTS

• Asia Pacific

Asia-Pacific is the heart of the Tiger Prawn Market in production and innovation. Countries like India, Vietnam, China, and Indonesia collectively account for more than 70 percent of global black tiger prawn output. In 2023–24, farm production in Asia reached 520,000–580,000 tonnes, driven by improved broodstock and farm practices. Domestic consumption is rising in middle-class Asian markets, while export remains robust. Many Asian farms are investing in biofloc and SPF broodstock systems to improve survival rates. The regional infrastructure supports processing for both live export and frozen supply. As consumer demand for premium seafood grows in Asia itself, tiger prawn enjoys both local and international demand channels.

• Europe

European demand for tiger prawn is niche but strong in high-quality seafood segments. Importers in Europe look for premium black tiger prawns, often shell-on or live, to supply gourmet restaurants and specialty retail. Because Europe has minimal local monodon production, it relies on Asian exporters offering consistent quality, size, and traceability. European buyers increasingly demand sustainability certifications and pathogen-free stock. Regulatory compliance and transport logistics are crucial for exporters targeting this region. As consumer awareness and premium consumption rise, Europe offers a stable but selective B2B market for high-grade tiger prawn.

• North America,

In North America, primarily the United States, the Tiger Prawn Market is driven by import demand. U.S. shrimp imports totaled around 789,000 tonnes in 2023, down from previous years, but remain large in absolute volume. A portion of this comes from black tiger prawn, which is valued by premium seafood distributors and upscale restaurants. India is a major supplier, exporting around 4,662 tonnes of black tiger shrimp to the U.S. in 2023–24. The U.S. market is increasingly focused on traceability, certification, and quality for B2B importers. Shrimp importers face tight margins due to trade policies, but they continue to source tiger prawn for its premium positioning.

• Middle East & Africa 

In the Middle East & Africa region, the Tiger Prawn Market is nascent but developing. Local production of monodon is limited, so the region relies heavily on imports of black tiger shrimp from Asia and Latin America. Imported tiger prawn is used by upscale hotels, seafood restaurants, and wholesalers in urban centers. B2B buyers in MEA prioritize quality, frozen shelf stability, and size consistency. Logistics costs, import duties, and cold-chain constraints remain challenges. Still, demand for high-quality tiger prawn is rising, driven by tourism growth and increasing seafood consumption. This region represents a long-term B2B opportunity for exporters looking to expand into under-penetrated markets.

KEY INDUSTRY PLAYERS

Leading Players adopt Acquisition Strategies to Stay Competitive

Several players in the market are using acquisition strategies to build their business portfolio and strengthen their market position. In addition, partnerships and collaborations are among the common strategies adopted by companies. Key market players are making R&D investments to bring advanced technologies and solutions to the market.

• Austral Fisheries reported operating across 41 marine zones and enhanced sustainable prawn harvest rates by 17% in 2024 through certified practices.

• Tassal Group expanded aquaculture capacity by 23% in 2023 and managed distribution networks supplying tiger prawns to over 64 regional markets.

List Of Top Tiger Prawn Companies

• Austral Fisheries (Australia)
• Tassal Group (Australia)
• Pacific American Fish Company, Inc (U.S.)
• Gold Coast Tiger Prawns (Australia)
• Tropic Co (U.S.)
• CSIRO (Australia)

Top two companies with the highest market share,

• Austral Fisheries- holds an estimated 20 percent of the premium tiger prawn export market and is a major supplier in Asia-Pacific-based premium channels.
• Tassal Group- commands about 15 percent of the high-value black tiger prawn aquaculture and supply segment, particularly for live and shell-on export.

INVESTMENT ANALYSIS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Investment in the Tiger Prawn Market offers compelling potential for growth and value capture. First, expanding farm capacity in Asia,where black tiger production is rebounding to 580,000 tonnes in 2024,represents a strong opportunity. Investors can support hatcheries with SPF broodstock development, which is critical for reliable production. Building or upgrading farms in Vietnam, India, or Indonesia using more efficient systems (e.g., biofloc or recirculating aquaculture) can lower cost per kg and improve sustainability, making the business more attractive to B2B buyers.

Second, value-added processing offers upside. Setting up processing plants for head-on, peeled, deveined, and live tiger prawn allows producers to serve high-margin foodservice channels and upscale retail, which pay premiums of 30 to 40 percent over bulk frozen shell-on prawns. Third, investments in cold-chain and export logistics infrastructure (cold storage, specialized freight) can support expansion into premium markets like North America, Europe, and the Middle East.

Furthermore, vertical integration can reduce risk, companies that own both farms and processing/export facilities can align production tightly with demand and improve traceability. Finally, certification and sustainable farming practices are an emerging investment theme. Producers who can secure eco-certification, implement water recycling, and document traceability may attract ESG-focused capital and premium segment buyers, unlocking long-term Tiger Prawn Market Opportunities.

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

Innovation in the Tiger Prawn Market is gaining momentum across breeding, farming systems, and product formats. Hatcheries are scaling up Specific Pathogen Free (SPF) black tiger prawn broodstock programs, improving survival and growth, and reducing disease risk. Currently, an estimated 35–40 percent of forward-looking farms are integrating SPF lines into their production. Farming systems are evolving, biofloc and low-exchange aquaculture are being adopted by around 25 percent of modern farms to reduce water use and lower environmental impact. These systems support higher stocking densities with stable water quality.

On the processing side, producers are launching value-added formats such as live black tiger prawn, head-on, peeled, and deveined portions, targeting upscale foodservice and gourmet retail. These formats often command 30–40 percent higher margins than conventional frozen shell-on products. Packaging innovation , including vacuum-sealed trays and modified atmosphere packaging , is extending shelf life by more than 50 percent, enabling more efficient export. Finally, selective breeding experiments are being conducted to develop hybrid tiger-vannamei lines that combine monodon’s size and flavor with vannamei’s fast growth and disease tolerance. These innovations could support the Tiger Prawn Market by meeting both premium and cost-focused demand.

FIVE RECENT DEVELOPMENTS (2023–2025)

• In 2023, Asian black tiger prawn production was estimated at 520,000 tonnes, marking a strong recovery in key producing countries.
• By 2024, black tiger prawn production in Asia was projected to reach 580,000 tonnes, driven by farms in India, Vietnam, and China.
• In 2023–24, India exported approximately 38,987 tonnes of black tiger shrimp, reflecting export volume growth of around 25 percent compared to prior years.
• In the U.S., shrimp imports in the first quarter of 2025 reached 205,770 tonnes, up 13 percent year-over-year, with contributions from India, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.
• Several producers have adopted biofloc or low-exchange systems in more than 20 percent of their black tiger farming ponds to reduce water usage and improve sustainability.

REPORT COVERAGE OF TIGER PRAWN MARKET

This Tiger Prawn Market Report delivers a detailed B2B-grade analysis spanning production, trade, consumption, and investment. It provides segmentation by prawn type , black tiger, Skull Island tiger, and others , and by application , residential (retail, foodservice) and commercial (processing, wholesale). The report quantifies black tiger production in Asia at 520,000 tonnes in 2023, rising to 580,000 tonnes projected in 2024. It also examines regional supply dynamics, Asia-Pacific contributes over 70 percent of black tiger volume, while North America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa represent major import markets.

The competitive landscape section profiles key players such as Austral Fisheries, Tassal Group, Fiodosur, Pacific American Fish Company, Gold Coast Tiger Prawns, Tropic Co, and CSIRO, estimating market share and export capacity. It analyzes market drivers (premium demand, revival of black tiger), restraints (cost, competition), opportunities (value-added formats, ESG certification), and challenges (price volatility, regulatory risk). New product development is covered, from SPF broodstock to live prawn, hybrid lines, and advanced processing packaging. Five major developments from 2023–2025 , including capacity increases, export surges, and farming innovation , are highlighted. Finally, it offers investment and infrastructure insights into capacity expansion, processing, and traceability. This report provides essential Tiger Prawn Market Insights, Market Opportunities, and a clear Market Forecast for stakeholders in farming, processing, export, and trade.