India’s seafood exports hit a record high of Rs 72,325.82 crore ($8.28 billion) in FY26, with volumes reaching 19.32 lakh metric tonnes, as per data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Frozen shrimp was the key driver, contributing Rs 47,973.13 crore ($5.51 billion), making up over two-thirds of total export earnings.
The Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying noted that shrimp shipments grew 4.6% in volume and 6.35% in value, solidifying its position as a major player in India’s marine products export sector. The US remained the top export destination, despite a 19.8% decline in volume and a 14.5% drop in value, mainly due to reciprocal tariffs.
While exports to the US decreased, markets like China, the EU, and Southeast Asia saw significant growth. Shipments to China, the second-largest market, rose by 22.7% in value and 20.1% in volume. The EU and Southeast Asia also experienced substantial increases in both value and volume.
Japan saw a 6.55% increase in seafood exports by value, while West Asia had a slight decline of 0.55% due to regional instability towards the end of the fiscal year. Notably, frozen fish, squid, cuttlefish, and dried items saw positive growth, while chilled products saw a decline.
The top five ports handling seafood exports were Vizag, JNPT, Kochi, Kolkata, and Chennai, collectively accounting for nearly 64% of the total export value. The government has introduced targeted measures to enhance fisheries, modernize value chains, and boost seafood exports.
