Seafood exports up 11.2% in 2025-26

India's seafood exports reached an all-time high of Rs 72,325.82 crore (approximately $8.28 billion) in FY 2025-26, registering an 11.2 percent growth over t...

What Happened

India's seafood exports reached an all-time high of Rs 72,325.82 crore (approximately $8.28 billion) in FY 2025-26, registering an 11.2 percent growth over the previous year, according to provisional data released by the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA).
Export volumes touched 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, reflecting both value and volume growth driven primarily by frozen shrimp.
Frozen shrimp was the dominant product category, contributing Rs 47,973.13 crore ($5.51 billion) — over two-thirds of total export earnings — with volume growing 4.6 percent and value growing 6.35 percent year-on-year.
Strong gains in China (value up 22.7%, volume up 20.1%), the European Union (value up 37.9%, volume up 35.2%), and Southeast Asian markets offset a significant decline in the United States market.
Shipments to the United States declined 19.8 percent in volume and 14.5 percent in value, attributed primarily to the impact of reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods from August 2025.
The diversification away from the US market — which had historically been the single largest destination — toward China, the EU, and Southeast Asia represents a significant structural shift in India's seafood export geography.

Static Topic Bridges

Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA)

The Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) is a statutory body established under the Marine Products Export Development Authority Act, 1972, under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It serves as the apex institution for promoting, regulating, and developing the export of marine and fishery products from India.

Established: 1972; Headquarters: Kochi, Kerala
Mandate: Promotion of marine product exports, regulation of export standards and quality, support for aquaculture development (hatcheries, farms, species diversification), and training
Key functions include registration of processing facilities, inspection of marine products, setting export standards, and disseminating trade information
MPEDA has trade promotion offices in New Delhi, Tokyo, and New York, with regional offices across coastal states
Distinct from APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority) — APEDA covers agricultural produce broadly, while MPEDA is specific to marine and fishery products

Connection to this news: MPEDA releases annual provisional export data that forms the official record of India's seafood trade performance, and the FY26 data it published reveals a record year driven by market diversification and sustained demand for frozen shrimp.

India's Blue Economy and Aquaculture Sector

India's Blue Economy encompasses ocean-based economic activities including fisheries, aquaculture, shipping, coastal tourism, and marine energy. The fisheries and aquaculture sector contributes approximately 1.24 percent of India's GDP and employs over 28 million people, predominantly in coastal and inland fishing communities.

India is among the world's top three fish-producing nations and the second-largest aquaculture producer globally. Shrimp, particularly white leg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), dominates India's aquaculture export value. The sector has received policy support through the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), launched in 2020, which allocated Rs 20,050 crore over five years for fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture, and market linkages.

India's fish production: approximately 175 lakh metric tonnes (FY24), of which aquaculture contributes about 60%
White leg shrimp (vannamei) introduced in India around 2009; now the backbone of export-oriented aquaculture
Key producing states: Andhra Pradesh (largest), Odisha, Gujarat, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu
Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY): Rs 20,050 crore scheme (2020–2025) for fisheries development

Connection to this news: The record seafood export performance is underpinned by investments in aquaculture infrastructure under government schemes, which have expanded frozen shrimp production capacity and enabled India to redirect exports to alternative markets when the US market faced tariff-driven demand contraction.

India's Export Market Diversification Strategy

Market diversification — reducing dependence on any single export destination — is a key objective of India's trade policy to mitigate geopolitical and tariff-related risks. The US had been India's largest seafood market; the FY26 data shows that when US shipments fell due to tariffs, China and the EU absorbed additional volumes.

The US imposed reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods in August 2025, leading to a 19.8% volume decline in Indian seafood shipments to the US
China's import growth (22.7% in value) was partly driven by increased demand for shrimp and fish meal
The EU's 37.9% value growth reflects compliance with stringent European food safety and quality norms — signalling maturity in India's seafood processing standards
Southeast Asian markets emerged as additional diversification avenues for processed and value-added marine products

Connection to this news: India's ability to record an overall 11.2% export growth despite a near-20% volume decline in the US market demonstrates the effectiveness of market diversification. However, sustained dependence on any single product (frozen shrimp, 67% of earnings) remains a structural concentration risk.

Key Facts & Data

India's seafood exports in FY 2025-26: Rs 72,325.82 crore ($8.28 billion) — an all-time record
Growth rate: 11.2 percent year-on-year in value terms
Export volume: 19.32 lakh metric tonnes
Frozen shrimp contribution: Rs 47,973.13 crore ($5.51 billion) — over 67% of total export earnings
Shrimp volume growth: 4.6%; value growth: 6.35%
Exports to China: +22.7% in value, +20.1% in volume (FY26 vs FY25)
Exports to EU: +37.9% in value, +35.2% in volume
Exports to US: -14.5% in value, -19.8% in volume (due to reciprocal US tariffs from August 2025)
MPEDA established: 1972; Headquarters: Kochi; Ministry: Commerce and Industry
India is among the top 3 fish-producing nations and 2nd largest aquaculture producer globally
Key producing state: Andhra Pradesh (largest contributor to shrimp exports)