India’s Seafood Exports Hit All-Time High of ₹72,000 Crore

India’s marine exports reached a historic high of ₹72,325.82 crore (US$ 8.28 billion) in FY 2025–26, with total shipments touching 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, according to provisional figures from MPEDA.

Frozen shrimp continued to dominate the sector, generating ₹47,973.13 crore (US$ 5.51 billion) and contributing more than two-thirds of the total export revenue. The segment recorded steady growth, with volumes rising by 4.6% and value increasing by 6.35%.

The United States remained India’s largest export market, importing seafood worth US$ 2.32 billion. However, exports to the US declined significantly—down 19.8% in volume and 14.5% in value—largely due to the effects of reciprocal tariffs.

This slowdown was balanced by strong growth in other regions. Exports to China, the second-largest market, increased by 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume. The European Union also showed robust performance, with exports rising 37.9% in value and 35.2% in volume. Southeast Asia saw notable expansion as well, with growth exceeding 36.1% in value and 28.2% in volume. Shipments to Japan grew moderately by 6.55% in value, while exports to West Asia saw a slight dip of 0.55%, attributed to regional instability toward the end of the financial year.

Several emerging markets posted strong double-digit gains, indicating a strategic shift toward diversification in response to challenges in traditional markets.

Across product categories, exports of frozen fish, squid, cuttlefish, dried items, and live seafood showed positive trends, while chilled products experienced a decline. Value-added products such as surimi, fishmeal, and fish oil also performed better.

From a logistics perspective, five major ports—Vizag, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata, and Chennai—handled nearly 64% of the total export value, underlining their critical role in supporting India’s seafood export network.

Reference : PIB