Kochi, Jun 1 (PTI) India’s seafood exports hit a record high in both volume and value during 2025–26, reaching 19,72,018 metric tonnes worth Rs 73,890.46 crore (USD 8.46 billion), despite global challenges, MPEDA Chairman P Jawahar said on Monday.

The Kochi-based Marine Products Export Development Authority is a statutory body established under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, to promote and regulate the export of marine products.

According to MPEDA figures, the United States and China remained the top importers of Indian seafood during the fiscal year, while frozen shrimp continued to dominate the export basket.

Frozen shrimp, the leading export item, generated Rs 49,037.93 crore (USD 5,624.48 million), accounting for 40.19 per cent of the total quantity exported and 66.52 per cent of total dollar earnings from seafood exports, a statement said.

During 2025–26, India exported 7,92,647 MT of frozen shrimp.

Shrimp exports registered growth of 13.16 per cent in rupee terms and 8.64 per cent in dollar terms.

The United States remained the largest market for frozen shrimp, importing 2,56,128 MT, followed by China (1,69,505 MT), the European Union (1,35,599 MT), Southeast Asia (83,810 MT), Japan (40,776 MT), the Middle East (30,478 MT), and other countries (76,351 MT), the statement added.

Exports of L vannamei (Whiteleg shrimp) and Black Tiger shrimp recorded growth in both volume and value, Jawahar said.

Frozen fish was the second-largest export item, earning Rs 5,658.37 crore (USD 643.70 million), while dried products emerged as the third-largest export category with earnings of Rs 5,079.09 crore (USD 577.44 million). Exports of dried products recorded a 78.05 per cent increase in rupee value.

Exports of frozen squid stood at 1,02,060 MT, fetching Rs 4,493.80 crore (USD 513.84 million). Frozen cuttlefish exports rose by 13.32 per cent in volume and 16.25 per cent in dollar value, reaching 67,157 MT worth USD 331.96 million.

Exports of chilled products earned Rs 622.31 crore (USD 71.27 million), while live products registered an 11.46 per cent increase in dollar earnings to USD 62.43 million.

Among overseas markets, the United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood in value terms, importing 2,79,193 MT worth Rs 20,263.27 crore (USD 2,328.74 million).

However, exports to the US declined by 10.82 per cent in rupee value, 14.22 per cent in dollar value, and 19.51 per cent in volume. Frozen shrimp accounted for 93.55 per cent of the value of India’s seafood exports to the US, the statement said.

China emerged as the largest destination in volume terms, importing 4,90,369 MT worth USD 1,611.32 million.

The European Union remained the third-largest destination in dollar terms, importing 2,97,518 MT worth USD 1,592.09 million. It was followed by Southeast Asia, which imported 4,51,756 MT worth USD 1,348.97 million.

Japan continued to be the fifth-largest importer in value terms, importing 1,05,228 MT worth USD 452.91 million, while the Middle East ranked sixth with imports of 76,743 MT valued at USD 283 million.

The top three ports handling seafood cargo during the year were Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and Kochi Port, the statement added. PTI LGK SSK

Seafood exports record growth as frozen shrimp drives India's overseas earnings and major markets stay strong. India's seafood exports reached a record level in 2025-26, with frozen shrimp remaining the dominant export item and the main contributor to foreign exchange earnings. The Marine Products Export Development Authority reported that the United States, China, the European Union and Southeast Asia were major markets, while frozen fish, dried products, squid, cuttlefish, chilled products and live products also contributed to export earnings. Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kochi Port were the leading ports handling seafood cargo.