India’s seafood exports touched an all-time high of ₹73,890.46 crore in FY 2025-26, with shipments reaching 19,72,018 metric tonnes despite challenging global market conditions.
The exports were valued at $8.46 billion, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said in a statement on Monday, 1 June.
Marine Products Export Development Authority Chairman P. Jawahar said the United States and China remained the principal importers of Indian seafood during the year.
Frozen shrimp remained India’s leading seafood export item, contributing ₹49,037.93 crore, or $5.62 billion.
It accounted for 40.19% of the total export quantity and 66.52% of total export earnings in dollar terms.
Shrimp exports grew 13.16% in rupee value and 8.64% in dollar value during FY 2025-26.
India exported 7,92,647 metric tonnes of frozen shrimp during the year.
The United States was the largest market for Indian frozen shrimp, importing 2,56,128 metric tonnes, followed by China at 1,69,505 metric tonnes and the European Union at 1,35,599 metric tonnes.
Southeast Asia imported 83,810 metric tonnes of frozen shrimp from India, while Japan imported 40,776 metric tonnes and the Middle East imported 30,478 metric tonnes.
Frozen fish was the second-largest exported seafood item, generating ₹5,658.37 crore, or $643.70 million.
Dried seafood products ranked third with earnings of ₹5,079.09 crore, or $577.44 million, and recorded 78.05% growth in rupee value terms.
Frozen squid exports stood at 1,02,060 metric tonnes and earned ₹4,493.80 crore, or $513.84 million.
Frozen cuttlefish exports also grew in both volume and value, rising 13.32% in quantity and 16.25% in dollar value.
Exports of frozen cuttlefish stood at 67,157 metric tonnes, valued at $331.96 million.
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Chilled seafood products earned ₹622.31 crore, or $71.27 million, while live products recorded 11.46% growth in dollar value terms to reach $62.43 million.
In value terms, the United States remained the top destination for Indian seafood exports, importing ₹20,263.27 crore, or $2.33 billion, worth of products.
However, exports to the United States declined 10.82% in rupee value, 14.22% in dollar value and 19.51% in volume.
Frozen shrimp accounted for 93.55% of the value of India’s seafood exports to the United States.
China emerged as the largest destination by quantity, importing 4,90,369 metric tonnes of Indian seafood valued at $1.61 billion.
The European Union was the third-largest destination in value terms, importing 2,97,518 metric tonnes worth $1.59 billion.
Southeast Asia imported 4,51,756 metric tonnes valued at $1.35 billion, while Japan imported 1,05,228 metric tonnes worth $452.91 million.
The Middle East ranked sixth, importing 76,743 metric tonnes valued at $283 million.
The top three ports handling seafood export cargo during FY 2025-26 were Visakhapatnam, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust and Kochi.
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