Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met with Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy, Ranjan Singh to explore opportunities for enhancing fisheries exports. Goyal, in a social media post, highlighted discussions on increasing the incomes of fisherfolk in the country. Both ministers reaffirmed their commitment to promoting sustainable growth and innovation in the sector.
India’s seafood exports have shown significant growth, particularly in non-US markets, as stated by Singh. He emphasized the importance of continuous market and product diversification, along with strict regulatory compliance, including antibiotic bans and improved traceability systems. According to recent data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), India’s seafood exports reached a record Rs 72,325.82 crore in FY26, with volumes exceeding 19.32 lakh metric tonnes.
The primary driver of this growth has been frozen shrimp, contributing over two-thirds of the total export earnings at Rs 47,973.13 crore. Shipments of shrimp saw a 4.6% increase in volume and a 6.35% increase in value, solidifying its position in India’s marine products export sector, as reported by the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying.
Despite the US being the largest export destination with imports worth $2.32 billion, there was a decline in volume and value due to reciprocal tariffs. However, this decrease was balanced by substantial growth in other markets like China, the EU, and Southeast Asian countries. Notably, exports to China, the second-largest destination, saw a significant increase of 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume.
