During the financial year 2013-14, exports of marine products reached an all-time high of US$ 5007.70 million. Marine product exports crossed all previous records in quantity, rupee value and US$ terms. Exports aggregated to 9,83,756 MT valued at Rs. 30,213.26 crores and US$ 5,007.70 million. Compared to the previous year, seafood exports recorded a growth of 5.98 % in quantity, 60.23% in rupee and 42.6 % growth in US$ earnings respectively. The unit value realization also reached to record high from USD/Kg 3.78 during 2012-13 to USD/Kg 5.09 during 2013-14 and recorded growth of 34.55%. The increased production of L. Vannamei shrimp has helped to achieve higher exports.

Exports during 2013-14 compared to 2012-13 

Major items of export

Frozen shrimp continued to be the major export value item accounting for a share of 64.12% of the total US$ earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 31.85%, 99.54% and 78.06% in quantity, rupee value and US$ value respectively.  There was all time high growth in unit value realization of frozen shrimp at 35.05%.

The overall export of shrimp during 2013-14 was to the tune of 3,01,435 MT worth US$ 3210.94 million. USA is the largest market (95,927MT) for frozen shrimps exports in quantity terms followed by European Union (73,487 MT), South East Asia (52,533MT) and Japan (28,719 MT).

The contribution of cultured shrimp to the total shrimp export is 73.31% in terms of US$. The export of cultured shrimp has shown tremendous growth of 36.71% in quantity and 92.29% in dollar terms.

The export of Vannamei has shown tremendous growth to 1,75,071 MT from 91,171 MT and US$ 1,994.27 million from 731.01 million compared to 2012-13. The export of Vannamei recorded a growth of 92.03% in quantity and 172.81% in dollar terms. 44.59 % of total Vannamei shrimp was exported to USA  followed by  17.07% to EU,  16.54% to South East Asian countries and 4.01 % to Japan in terms US$. Export of Black Tiger shrimp reduced from US $521.33 million to 435.79 million and 61,177 MT to 34,133 MT compared to last year.

Fish, has retained its position as the principal export item in quantity terms and the second largest export item in value terms, accounting for a share of about 32.97% in quantity and 14.15% in US$ earnings. Unit value realization of fish also increased by 21.65%.

Export of Fr. Squid has shown growth of 15.98%, 25.68% and 10.78% in terms of Quantity, Rupee Value in and US$ terms. However it has shown decrease in unit value realization by 4.48%. Fr. Cuttlefish recorded a growth of 8.34% in quantity.  Dried items have shown a positive growth in terms of rupee value by 21.72% and in dollar terms by 9.86%. Live items exports shown a growth by 16.17%, 42.43% and 26.81% in quantity, rupee value and US $ realization respectively compared to the previous year.

The details of major items of exports are given in the following table

Major export markets

South East Asia continued to be the largest buyer of Indian marine products with a share of 26.38% in terms of US $ value realization.  USA is the second largest market with a share of 25.68% followed by European Union (EU) (20.24%), Japan (8.21%), other countries (8.20%), China (5.85%) and Middle East (5.45%).

The exports to South East Asian Countries as shown positive growth by 11.47%, 84.67% and 62.72% in terms of Quantity, Rupee value and US dollar terms respectively.

Exports to US had registered a tremendous growth of 19.94% in quantity and 72.06% in US$ realization and is mainly attributed to the export of Fr. Shrimp which showed a growth of about 34.81% in volume and 92.40% in US$ terms. Exports of Vannamei shrimp showed a tremendous increase in US market by 59.63 % in quantity and 135.71% in US$ realization.

Export to Japan registered   increase in terms of US$ by 10.30%. Export of Frozen Shrimp increased by 7.38% in quantity terms and 28.23 % in dollar terms.

Export to Middle East countries has shown good growth of 40.13%, 43.65% and 30.29% in terms of Quantity, Value and Dollar terms respectively.

The details on major markets for Indian marine products are given in the following table.

Major Port wise Exports:

Marine products were exported through 26 sea/air/land ports.  Exports improved from Vizag, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Tuticorin and Mangalore compared to the corresponding period during the last year.  Pipavav is the major port in terms of quantity (25.27%) and Vizag is the major port in terms of dollar value (22.59%).

Outlook for 2014-15

MPEDA envisages target of USD 6.0 Billion for the year 2014-15. Increased production of L. Vannamei shrimp, Quality control measures and increase in infrastructure facilities for production of value added items are expected to help in achieving this target.