India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high of ₹72,325.82 crore ($8.28 billion) in the financial year 2025–26, reflecting strong global demand and improved market diversification. The total export volume stood at 19.32 lakh tonnes, according to provisional data released by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Shrimp Drives Export Growth
The biggest contributor to this growth was frozen shrimp, which remained the backbone of India’s seafood exports.
- Export value: ₹47,973.13 crore
- Share: More than two-thirds of total exports
- Growth:
- Volume increased by 4.6%
- Value rose by 6.35%
This clearly shows that shrimp continues to dominate India’s seafood trade globally.
US Market Weakens, New Markets Rise
The United States remained India’s largest seafood export destination, with imports worth $2.32 billion. However, exports to the US declined due to reciprocal tariffs:
- Volume fell by 19.8%
- Value dropped by 14.5%
To balance this slowdown, India successfully expanded into other markets:
- China saw strong growth in both value and volume
- European Union (EU) recorded impressive double-digit growth
- Southeast Asia also emerged as a fast-growing region
- Japan showed moderate improvement
- West Asia saw a slight decline due to regional instability
This indicates a clear shift towards market diversification.
Product-wise Trends
Several seafood categories showed positive growth:
- Frozen fish
- Squid and cuttlefish
- Dried seafood items
- Live seafood products
In addition, products like surimi, fishmeal, and fish oil also performed well.
However, chilled seafood exports declined, showing mixed performance within the sector.
Major Export Ports
India’s seafood exports were largely handled by key ports such as:
- Visakhapatnam (Vizag)
- JNPT (Nhava Sheva)
- Kochi
- Kolkata
- Chennai
These ports together contributed around 64% of total export value.
Conclusion
India’s seafood export sector has shown strong resilience despite global trade challenges. The record growth in FY26 highlights the importance of shrimp exports and market diversification strategies. With expanding global demand and new markets opening up, India is well-positioned to further strengthen its presence in the global seafood industry.