Acing the ‘Samudrartha Shastra’: India exports seafood worth over ₹73,000 crore in FY 2025-26

India has exported 19,72,018 tonnes of seafood valued at ₹73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion) during the fiscal year 2025-26, which is an all-time high mark by volume and value despite global odds, P Jawahar, Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), has said in a release.  

The USA and China remained the primary importers of Indian seafood.

Frozen shrimp remained the leading product in seafood exports, generating ₹49,037.93 crore ($5,624.48 million), which accounts for 40.19 percent of the total quantity and 66.52 percent of total US dollar earnings from seafood exports.

During this period, shrimp exports increased by 13.16 percent in rupee value and 8.64 percent in USD value.

During the 2025-26 period, the total export of frozen shrimp was 7,92,647 tonnes.

The United States, being the largest market, imported 2,56,128 tonnes of frozen shrimp, followed by China with 1,69,505 tonnes, the European Union with 1,35,599 tonnes, Southeast Asia with 83,810 tonnes, Japan with 40,776 tonnes, the Middle East with 30,478 tonnes, and all other countries combined, which accounted for 76,351 tonnes.

The exports of L. vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp have shown an increase in both volume 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 has shown a positive export trend of 78.05 percent in terms of rupee value.

The export of frozen squid reached 1,02,060 tonnes, earning ₹4,493.80 crore ($513.84 million). Meanwhile, frozen cuttlefish experienced growth in both volume and value, by 13.32 percent in quantity and 16.25 percent in USD value, with exports totalling to 67,157 tonnes worth $ 331.96 million, respectively.

The export of chilled items earned ₹622.31 crore ($71.27 million), while export of live items showed a growth of 11.46 percent in USD value terms ($ 62.43 million).

In terms of overseas markets, the United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood, with imports valued at ₹ 20,263.27 crore ($ 2,328.74 million) and a total volume of 279,193 tonnes.

Exports to the U.S. decreased by 10.82 percent in rupee value terms, 14.22 percent in dollar value, and 19.51 percent in volume. Within the USA’s seafood import basket from India, frozen shrimp had the lion’s share of 93.55 percent in dollar value.

China emerged as the largest seafood export destination from India in terms of quantity with 4,90,369 tonnes worth $1,611.32 million.

European Union continued to be the third largest destination in USD terms, with an import of 2,97,518 tonnes worth $1,592.09 million.

This was followed by South-East Asia in value with an import of 4,51,756 tonnes worth $1,348.97 million.

Japan continued to be the fifth largest importer in value with an import of 1,05,228 tonnes worth $452.91 million.

Middle East is the sixth largest destination in value with an import of 76,743 tonnes worth $283 million.

The top three ports handling seafood cargo were Vizag and JNPT, and Kochi, the release said in conclusion.