The downward revision from 170,000 tonnes was prompted by a 30-per cent fall in shrimp export volume to Asian markets in the first half of this year from a year earlier, according to a senior commerce ministry official.

But a projected slight growth in other major markets such as the United States and the European Union would support sales, they said. Despite the cut, the shrimp export target this year will exceed the 137,082 tonnes exported last year.

Japan, the biggest market for Thai shrimps in Asia, imported only about 9,000 tonnes in the first half of this year, compared with 13,000 tonnes during the same period last year.

"It seems impossible to maintain the former target," said the official.

"Not only Japan imported less, other countries such as Taiwan and South Korea also bought less too," she said.

According to official data, Thailand exported 64,561 tonnes of shrimp worth 29.5 billion baht ($708.1 million) during the first six months of 1998, slightly up from 64,124 tonnes during the same period last year.

Thailand is the world's largest producer of cultured shrimps, followed by Indonesia, Ecuador, India, China and Vietnam.

Somsak Paneetatyasai, vice president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said Thailand would have to look to other markets such as the US and the European Union as economic crisis bites into the purchasing power of Asian countries.

He said the United States had become the main market for all shrimp producing countries this year as the country had strong purchasing power due to its booming economy.

As for Europe, the group's ban on shrimp imports from India and Pakistan would be a boon for Thai shrimps, Somsak said.

"I think Thailand can sell about 10 per cent more to the EU because it has banned imports from some countries such as India and Pakistan because of sanitary concerns," he said.

The United States is normally Thailand's biggest market for shrimps, accounting for 50 per cent of the exports, followed by Japan and the EU.

During January to June, Thailand exported 18,586 tonnes of shrimps to the US, up from 17,151 tonnes in the same period last year.

The EU imported 8,287 tonnes from Thailand, up from 6,064 tonnes during the first half of last year, the commerce ministry official said.

Somsak said exports to these two markets during the last quarter would be robust due to the holiday season there.