Seafood Exports Up 11.2% in 2025-26

New Delhi, Apr 21 (PTI) The country's seafood exports rose by 11.2 per cent year-on-year to USD 8.28 billion, driven by higher shipments to European markets and China, the Commerce Ministry said on Tuesday.

Though the US is the largest destination for these goods, India's exports to America in the last fiscal year dipped 14.15 per cent in value terms to USD 2.32 billion and 19.8 per cent in volume terms.

"India's seafood exports rose to a record Rs 72,325.82 crore (USD 8.28 billion) in 2025-“26, with volumes reaching 19.32 lakh metric tonnes," it said. It was USD 7.45 billion in 2024-25.

Frozen shrimp remained the primary growth driver, contributing Rs 47,973.13 crore (USD 5.51 billion), accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings.

Shipments of shrimp grew 4.6 per cent in volume and 6.35 per cent in value, reinforcing its dominance in India's marine products export basket, it added.


It also said that this decline in exports to the US was offset by robust growth in alternative markets such as China, the EU and Southeast Asian countries.

Exports to China, the second-largest destination, rose 22.7 per cent in value and 20.1 per cent in volume. Similarly, shipments to the European Union posted strong gains, with exports increasing by 37.9 per cent in value and 35.2 per cent in volume.

"Southeast Asia also recorded significant expansion, with growth of over 36.1 per cent and 28.2 per cent in value and volume, respectively. Exports to Japan grew 6.55 per cent by value, while those to West Asia showed a marginal decline of 0.55 per cent, due to the turmoil in the region during the fag end of the financial year," it said.

On the product side, exports of frozen fish, squid, cuttlefish, dried items, and live products showed positive momentum, while chilled products declined.

The export of the surimi, fishmeal and fish oil reported improved performance. In terms of logistics, the top five ports ”Vizag, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata and Chennai - accounted for nearly 64 per cent of total export value, highlighting their continued importance in India's seafood export supply chain.