New Delhi, April 22 (IANS). The value of India’s seafood exports has increased to a record Rs 72,325.82 crore ($8.28 billion) in FY26. Also, the volume stood at 19.32 lakh metric tonnes. This information was given in the provisional data released by Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Among the country’s seafood exports, frozen prawns were in the highest demand and their share in the total exports was Rs 47,973.13 crore ($5.51 billion).
According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, lobster has grown by 4.6 per cent in volume and 6.35 per cent in value, further strengthening its dominance in India’s exports of seafood products.
The US remained the largest export destination, with India exporting $2.32 billion, according to the official statement. However, exports to the US declined by 19.8 percent in volume and 14.5 percent in value, primarily reflecting the impact of tariffs.
However, strong growth in other markets such as China, the European Union and South-East Asian countries offset this decline.
Exports to the second largest destination, China, increased by 22.7 percent in value terms and 20.1 percent in volume terms.
Exports to the EU recorded strong growth, with export value increasing by 37.9 percent and volume increasing by 35.2 percent.
Exports to Southeast Asia also experienced strong growth, with value and volume increasing by more than 36.1 percent and 28.2 percent, respectively.
“Exports to Japan increased by 6.55 per cent in value, while exports to West Asia declined marginally by 0.55 per cent due to unrest in the region towards the end of the financial year,” the statement said.
Apart from prawns, exports of frozen fish, squid, cuttlefish, dry foods and live products witnessed positive momentum, while chilled products declined.
Improvement was recorded in exports of surimi, fishmeal and fish oil.
The top five ports – Visakhapatnam, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata and Chennai – accounted for about 64 per cent of the total export value, reflecting their continued importance in India’s seafood export supply chain.
The government has initiated a number of targeted measures aimed at strengthening fisheries and aquaculture, modernizing value chains, and increasing seafood exports.
–IANS
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