India’s seafood exports hit an all-time high in both volume and value during the fiscal year 2025-26, showcasing the sector’s resilience in the face of global trade uncertainties. The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) reported that India shipped 19.72 lakh metric tonnes of seafood, amounting to Rs 73,890 crore ($8.46 billion), marking a historic achievement for the industry. Despite various global challenges, including fluctuating demand and market instabilities, the sector excelled.
Frozen shrimp continued to dominate India’s seafood export landscape, contributing significantly to total export earnings. With exports of frozen shrimp reaching 7.93 lakh metric tonnes, valued at Rs 49,038 crore ($5.62 billion), this segment played a pivotal role in driving foreign exchange earnings. The United States remained the primary buyer of Indian seafood, followed by China and the European Union, with frozen shrimp accounting for over 93% of India’s seafood exports to the American market.
The United States retained its position as the largest seafood market for India in terms of value, importing seafood worth $2.33 billion. However, there was a decrease in both value and volume of exports to the US compared to the previous year, reflecting evolving market dynamics and pricing pressures. China emerged as the leading destination by volume, importing 4.9 lakh metric tonnes of Indian seafood valued at $1.61 billion. The European Union, Southeast Asia, Japan, and the Middle East also featured prominently among India’s top export markets.
Frozen fish ranked as the second-largest export category, generating $644 million, while dried seafood witnessed significant growth in export earnings. Additionally, exports of frozen squid and cuttlefish experienced notable increases, indicating rising demand in key international markets. These developments underscore the expanding diversification of India’s seafood export portfolio and the increasing significance of value-added marine products in driving the sector’s growth.
The performance not only highlights the sector’s crucial role as a major foreign exchange earner but also emphasizes its impact on providing livelihoods to millions engaged in fishing, aquaculture, processing, and export activities in India’s coastal regions. Noteworthy ports handling seafood exports during the period included Visakhapatnam, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Kochi.
