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India exported a grounds 19,72,018 metric tonnes (MT) of seafood valued astatine ₹73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion) successful fiscal twelvemonth 2025-26. The figures people an all-time precocious successful presumption of measurement and worth contempt planetary challenges, P. Jawahar, president of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), said present connected Monday.
The United States and China remained the superior importers of Indian seafood, according to the statutory assemblage nether the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Addressing the media, Mr. Jawahar said frozen shrimp remained the starring merchandise successful seafood exports, generating ₹49,037.93 crore ($5,624.48 million). It accounted for 40.19% of the full quantity and 66.52% of full U.S. dollar net from seafood exports. During this period, shrimp exports accrued by 13.16% successful rupee worth and 8.64% successful dollar value, helium said.
During 2025-26, full frozen shrimp exports stood astatine 7,92,647 MT.
The U.S., the largest market, imported 2,56,128 MT of frozen shrimp. This was followed by China with 1,69,505 MT, the European Union with 1,35,599 MT, Southeast Asia with 83,810 MT, Japan with 40,776 MT, the Middle East with 30,478 MT, and each different countries combined with 76,351 MT. Exports of L. vannamei (white-leg shrimp) and Black Tiger shrimp showed an summation successful some measurement and value.
Frozen fish, the second-largest exported item, generated ₹5,658.37 crore ($643.70 million). Dried items, the third-largest exported group, earned ₹5,079.09 crore ($577.44 million) and showed a affirmative export inclination of 78.05% successful rupee worth terms.
The export of frozen squid reached 1,02,060 MT, earning ₹4,493.80 crore ($513.84 million). Meanwhile, frozen cuttlefish experienced maturation successful some measurement and value, by 13.32% successful quantity and 16.25% successful U.S. dollar value, with exports totalling 67,157 MT worthy $331.96 million.
The export of chilled items earned ₹622.31 crore ($71.27 million). Exports of unrecorded items showed maturation of 11.46% successful U.S. dollar worth presumption ($62.43 million).
In presumption of overseas markets, the U.S. remained the starring importer of Indian seafood, with imports valued astatine ₹20,263.27 crore ($2,328.74 million) and a full measurement of 279,193 MT. Exports to the U.S. decreased by 10.82% successful rupee value, 14.22% successful dollar value, and 19.51% successful volume. Within the U.S. seafood import handbasket from India, frozen shrimp had the lion’s stock of 93.55% successful dollar value.
China emerged arsenic the largest destination for Indian seafood exports successful presumption of quantity, importing 4,90,369 MT worthy $1,611.32 million. The European Union continued to beryllium the third-largest destination successful dollar terms, importing 2,97,518 MT worthy $1,592.09 million. This was followed by Southeast Asia, which imported 4,51,756 MT worthy $1,348.97 million. Japan continued to beryllium the fifth-largest importer successful worth terms, importing 1,05,228 MT worthy $452.91 million. The Middle East was the sixth-largest destination successful worth terms, importing 76,743 MT worthy $283 million.
Vizag, JNPT and Kochi were the apical 3 ports handling seafood cargo.
