Kochi, June 1 (IANS) India’s seafood exports touched an all-time high in both volume and value during 2025-26, underlining the sector’s resilience amid uncertain global trade conditions and strengthening the country’s position as a major supplier to international markets.

According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), India exported 19.72 lakh metric tonnes of seafood during the fiscal year, valued at Rs 73,890 crore ($8.46 billion), the highest ever achieved by the sector.

Announcing the figures, MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the record performance was achieved despite multiple global challenges, including volatile demand patterns and market uncertainties.

Frozen shrimp continued to dominate India’s seafood export basket, accounting for more than two-thirds of total export earnings.

Shrimp exports generated Rs 49,038 crore ($5.62 billion), contributing 66.5 per cent of total foreign exchange earnings from seafood exports.

Export volumes of frozen shrimp rose to 7.93 lakh metric tonnes, with the United States remaining the largest buyer, followed by China and the European Union.

The United States retained its position as India’s largest seafood market by value, importing seafood worth $2.33 billion.

However, exports to the US registered a decline in value and volume compared with the previous year, reflecting changing market dynamics and pricing pressures.

Frozen shrimp alone accounted for more than 93 per cent of India’s seafood exports to the American market.

China emerged as the largest destination by volume, importing 4.9 lakh metric tonnes of Indian seafood valued at $1.61 billion.

The European Union remained the third-largest market by value at $1.59 billion, followed by Southeast Asia at $1.35 billion.

Japan and the Middle East completed the list of the top six export destinations.

Among other products, frozen fish remained the second-largest export category, generating $644 million, while dried seafood emerged as a strong growth segment, recording a sharp increase in export earnings.

Exports of frozen squid and cuttlefish also posted healthy gains, reflecting growing demand across key overseas markets.

The performance highlights the increasing diversification of India’s seafood export portfolio and the growing importance of value-added marine products.

It also reinforces the sector’s role as a significant foreign exchange earner and a critical source of livelihood for millions engaged in fishing, aquaculture, processing and export activities across the country’s coastal states.

The top three ports handling seafood exports during the year were Visakhapatnam, Jawaharlal Nehru Port and Kochi.

–IANS

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