Frozen Shrimp Drives India’s Record Seafood Exports; US and China Remain Top Markets

India exported 19,72,018 metric tonnes (MT) of seafood valued at ₹73,890.46 crore (USD 8.46 billion) during FY 2025–26, registering an all-time high in both volume and value despite challenging global market conditions, said Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Shri P. Jawahar, IAS.

The United States and China continued to be the principal importers of Indian seafood during the year.

Frozen shrimp remained the leading export item, contributing ₹49,037.93 crore (USD 5,624.48 million). It accounted for 40.19 per cent of the total export quantity and 66.52 per cent of the total export earnings in US dollar terms. During FY 2025–26, shrimp exports registered a growth of 13.16 per cent in rupee value and 8.64 per cent in dollar value.

A total of 7,92,647 MT of frozen shrimp was exported during the year. The United States remained the largest market for frozen shrimp imports from India, 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 combined (76,351 MT). Exports of Litopenaeus vannamei (L. vannamei) and Black Tiger shrimp recorded growth in both volume and value.

Frozen fish emerged as the second-largest exported seafood item, generating ₹5,658.37 crore (USD 643.70 million). Dried seafood products ranked third, earning ₹5,079.09 crore (USD 577.44 million), and registered a positive growth trend of 78.05 per cent in rupee value terms.

Exports of frozen squid reached 1,02,060 MT, earning ₹4,493.80 crore (USD 513.84 million). Frozen cuttlefish exports also recorded growth in both volume and value, increasing by 13.32 per cent in quantity and 16.25 per cent in dollar value. Exports of frozen cuttlefish totalled 67,157 MT, valued at USD 331.96 million.

Exports of chilled products earned ₹622.31 crore (USD 71.27 million), while exports of live products registered a growth of 11.46 per cent in dollar value terms, reaching USD 62.43 million.

In terms of overseas markets, the United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood in value terms, with imports worth ₹20,263.27 crore (USD 2,328.74 million) and a total volume of 2,79,193 MT. Exports to the United States 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 United States.

China emerged as the largest destination for Indian seafood exports in terms of quantity, importing 4,90,369 MT worth USD 1,611.32 million.

The European Union remained the third-largest destination in value terms, importing 2,97,518 MT worth USD 1,592.09 million. It was followed by Southeast Asia, which imported 4,51,756 MT valued at USD 1,348.97 million. Japan continued to be the fifth-largest importer, with imports of 1,05,228 MT worth USD 452.91 million. The Middle East ranked sixth, importing 76,743 MT valued at USD 283 million.

The top three ports handling seafood export cargo during FY 2025–26 were Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and Kochi.

Seafood export growth: India's frozen shrimp-led shipments hit a record high as the US and China stayed top markets. India's seafood exports reached a record high in FY 2025-26, with frozen shrimp remaining the dominant export item and contributing the largest share of export earnings and overall quantity. The United States and China continued to be the principal overseas markets, with the United States leading in value terms and China leading in quantity terms. The European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East also remained major export destinations, while Visakhapatnam, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kochi were the top ports handling seafood export cargo.