India's seafood exports achieved unprecedented milestones during 2025-26, reaching ₹73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion) in value and 19,72,018 metric tonnes in volume, according to MPEDA Chairman P Jawahar. As reported by Business Standard, this performance was achieved despite global challenges facing the industry, with the country exporting nearly two million tonnes of seafood during the fiscal year. The achievement represented a 16.13% growth in volume and 18.4% growth in value over the previous year, demonstrating India's resilience in the face of global market uncertainties including inflationary pressures, supply chain disruptions, and fluctuating consumer demand.
Frozen shrimp emerged as the leading export category, generating ₹49,037.93 crore ($5.62 billion) and accounting for 40.19% of total quantity exported and 66.52% of total dollar earnings from seafood exports. According to MPEDA data, India exported 7,92,647 MT of frozen shrimp during 2025-26, with shrimp exports registering growth of 13.16% in rupee terms and 8.64% in dollar terms. However, the average unit value declined marginally by 2.31% to $4.29 per kg, indicating continued price pressures in international markets. The United States remained the largest market for frozen shrimp, importing 2,56,128 MT, followed by China at 1,69,505 MT, the European Union at 1,35,599 MT, Southeast Asia at 83,810 MT, Japan at 40,776 MT, and the Middle East at 30,478 MT. Exports of both Litopenaeus vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp registered growth in volume as well as value during the year.
Frozen fish emerged as the second-largest export item, earning ₹5,658.37 crore ($643.70 million), with export volumes rising 4.68% to 3,55,581 tonnes though unit values declined slightly. Dried seafood emerged as one of the fastest-growing segments, with exports surging 62.25% in volume to 4,10,410 tonnes and 69.46% in dollar earnings to $577.44 million, now accounting for more than one-fifth of India's seafood export volume. Frozen squid exports climbed to 1,02,060 tonnes and generated ₹4,493.80 crore ($513.84 million), with export value rising by nearly 40%. Frozen cuttlefish also posted double-digit growth, with exports increasing 13.32% in quantity and 16.25% in dollar value to ₹67,157 MT ($331.96 million). Chilled products witnessed a decline in both volume and value despite higher unit realisations, while live seafood exports recorded growth of 11.46% in dollar terms.
The United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood in value terms, importing ₹20,263.27 crore ($2.33 billion), though exports to the US declined by 19.51% in volume and 14.22% in dollar value due to softer demand and inventory adjustments. US President's brutal tariff regime, now junked by the Supreme Court, had impacted India's exports market negatively. The US remained the largest importer of Indian shrimp at 2.56 lakh MT, followed by China at 1.70 lakh MT and the European Union at 1.36 lakh MT. China, including Hong Kong, emerged as the largest destination by volume, importing 4,90,369 tonnes worth ₹1,611.32 crore ($1.61 billion) and accounting for nearly a quarter of India's seafood export volume. The European Union, including the United Kingdom, continued as India's third-largest market by value, importing 2,97,518 tonnes worth ₹1,590 crore ($1.59 billion) with exports rising by 41.4% in dollar terms and 38.26% in volume. Southeast Asia followed closely with imports worth ₹1,350 crore ($1.35 billion) and posted growth of more than 38% in dollar terms. Japan imported seafood worth ₹453 crore ($452.91 million), while the Middle East accounted for imports valued at ₹283 crore ($283 million).
According to MPEDA, Visakhapatnam Port emerged as India's largest seafood export gateway, handling marine cargo worth ₹2,320 crore ($2.32 billion) and accounting for 27.42% of export earnings. Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) ranked second with exports worth ₹995 crore ($994.89 million), followed by Kochi Port with ₹833 crore ($833.10 million). Kolkata and Chennai ports were among the top five, which together handled nearly two-thirds of India's marine export value. India exported marine products to 128 countries during the year, with exports to other countries growing by nearly 25% in dollar terms to ₹839 crore ($838.73 million). The diversification of export destinations gained momentum, with Canada, Russia, Turkey, Sri Lanka, Australia, the Dominican Republic, Bangladesh and Tunisia together accounting for nearly 74% of exports under the 'other countries' category.
