Black tiger shrimp: buyer guide

Penaeus monodon · Also called Giant tiger prawn, monodon

Reviewed 2026-10-24

Short answer

Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) is usually traded as Frozen head-on, Frozen headless, Peeled. Best fit: Buyers who need larger shrimp or specific value-added formats and can confirm supply depth for their programme.

A large penaeid shrimp found naturally along the coasts of Australia, South East Asia, South Asia and East Africa.

A whole raw black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) with long antennae on a light background — Photo: Epipelagic, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Shows the species, not a supplier's product.

General species facts, not an offer. This page describes the species and how it is usually traded. Which forms, sizes, origins and production methods a supplier can actually provide is confirmed only through a request, with documents for the exact lot.

Traded product forms: Frozen head-on
Frozen headless
Peeled
Value-added (e.g. tempura, sushi, skewered, battered or breaded)
Chilled and live (mostly domestic markets)
Size, count and grade conventions: FAO's fact sheet gives a historical example (2001–2004) of different markets preferring different sizes: large headless 16/20 for Japan, smaller headless 21/25 for the United States, and small head-on 31/40 for the EU. Treat these as an illustration, not current preferences.
Processing and handling: After sorting, shrimp are washed, weighed and killed in iced water at 0 °C, kept in ice in insulated containers and taken to processing plants, where they are sorted to export sizes.
Storage and logistics: FAO notes chilled product is generally a non-export grade and live product goes mainly to Chinese restaurants. International trade is mostly frozen.
Seasonality: Not stated as a fixed season in the cited source; ask each producer for its harvest calendar.
Typical applications: Frozen and value-added products for retail and food service.

Strengths

Large sizes are available
Wide range of value-added formats

Trade-offs

FAO reports farms switching from this species to whiteleg shrimp in some countries after 2002, so check supply depth for your volume
Large counts command different prices, so compare offers on the same count

Best fit: Buyers who need larger shrimp or specific value-added formats and can confirm supply depth for their programme.

Questions to include in your RFQ

Species and scientific name
Count range and unit
Head-on, headless or peeled; raw or cooked
Value-added format, if any
Freezing, glaze and packing
Volume, frequency and delivery window
Destination and documents

Production method (farmed or wild), origin and any certification must be stated and documented by the supplier for your lot.

Request Black tiger shrimp through FishMatch

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Common buyer questions

Frozen head-on; Frozen headless; Peeled; Value-added (e.g. tempura, sushi, skewered, battered or breaded); Chilled and live (mostly domestic markets).

FAO's fact sheet gives a historical example (2001–2004) of different markets preferring different sizes: large headless 16/20 for Japan, smaller headless 21/25 for the United States, and small head-on 31/40 for the EU. Treat these as an illustration, not current preferences.

Not from this guide. The supplier must state and document the production method, origin and any certification for your lot, and certificates should be confirmed with the issuing scheme or authority. FishMatch collects and organises those documents but does not certify products.

Related guides

Farming this species

Aquaculture planning and equipment, separate from buying the food product.

Source: FAO Cultured Aquatic Species Information Programme – Penaeus monodon, text by Kongkeo, H., FAO (2005). Reviewed 2026-10-24. Some details in these fact sheets are historical; confirm current requirements with suppliers and authorities.

Every listing is an anonymous capability summary a producer, processor or exporter submitted and our team reviewed. Details are as stated by the supplier: they are not stock, price, quality or availability commitments, and FishMatch does not verify species, origin, production method or certifications. Requests go through FishMatch; buyers and suppliers are not put in direct contact. Managed seafood sourcing is free for buyers, for annual or seasonal programmes of USD 250,000 or more.

FishMatch Group and the other Global B2B Group platforms are committed to conducting their own activities in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. FishMatch facilitates sourcing and RFQs; it does not manufacture, process, export or sell the listed products and does not grant regulatory approval. Requirements differ by product and by origin, destination and transit country. As buyer or importer, you remain responsible for your own import permissions, local requirements and due diligence. This notice does not change anyone's legal duties and is not legal advice. Regulation & responsibilities