Bhubaneswar, April 22: India’s marine products exports have attained an unprecedented milestone, with seafood exports touching an all-time high of Rs 72,325.82 crore (US $8.28 billion) in FY 2025-26, according to provisional data released by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Export volumes simultaneously scaled to 19.32 lakh metric tons, reaffirming India’s stature as a global powerhouse in seafood trade.
As per the release of the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, frozen shrimp remained the principal catalyst of this record performance, contributing Rs 47,973.13 crore (US $5.51 billion) and accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings. Shipments of frozen shrimp registered robust growth of 4.6% in volume and 6.35% in value, consolidating its pre-eminence in India’s marine export basket.
The United States retained its position as the largest destination, with imports valued at US $2.32 billion. However, shipments to the US moderated, declining by 19.8% in volume and 14.5% in value, primarily due to the impact of reciprocal tariffs.
This contraction was effectively counterbalanced by vigorous growth across diversified markets. Exports to China, the second-largest importer, surged by 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume. The European Union demonstrated exceptional momentum, with exports rising by 37.9% in value and 35.2% in volume. Southeast Asia also recorded substantial expansion, posting growth of 36.1% in value and 28.2% in volume. Japan witnessed a steady increase of 6.55% by value, while exports to West Asia registered a marginal decline of 0.55% owing to regional turbulence during the closing phase of the financial year.
The strong double-digit growth across multiple geographies underscores a decisive shift towards market diversification, enabling resilience amid headwinds in traditional markets.
Across product categories, frozen fish, squid, cuttlefish, dried items, and live products exhibited positive traction, even as chilled products witnessed a decline. Notably, surimi, fishmeal, and fish oil reported improved performance, contributing to the overall export buoyancy.
On the logistics front, the top five ports — Visakhapatnam, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata, and Chennai — collectively facilitated nearly 64% of total export value, underscoring their enduring centrality to India’s seafood export supply chain.
This historic performance reflects the concerted efforts of exporters, aquaculture farmers, and policymakers in enhancing quality, compliance, and market access, further strengthening India’s position in the global seafood arena.
