Why in the News?

• India’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in FY 2025-26 despite higher tariffs in the U.S., reflecting a shift towards diversified global markets.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Seafood Sector (Background, Production, Exports, Institutional Support)
• News Summary

India’s Seafood Sector - Scale, Structure and Export Profile

• India has one of the largest and most diverse seafood sectors in the world, supported by a long coastline of over 7,500 km, extensive inland water resources, and a strong aquaculture base.
• The sector plays a critical role in employment generation, rural livelihoods, foreign exchange earnings, and food security.

Production and Resource Base

• India is the 3^rd largest fish producer globally and the 2^nd largest producer of aquaculture products.
• Marine fisheries are concentrated along the eastern and western coasts, while inland fisheries rely on rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and wetlands.
• Aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, has emerged as the dominant contributor to export volumes and value.

Export Composition

• Shrimp accounts for the largest share of India’s seafood exports, especially frozen shrimp varieties such as Vannamei.
• Other exported products include frozen fish, cuttlefish, squid, crabs, and value-added marine products.
• Export orientation has increased steadily over the last decade, driven by improved cold-chain infrastructure and compliance with international food safety standards.

Major Export Markets

• Traditionally, the United States has been India’s largest seafood export destination, followed by China, Japan, the European Union, and Southeast Asian countries.
• However, recent years have seen a strategic push towards market diversification to reduce over-dependence on a single region.

Institutional Support

• The Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), under the Ministry of Commerce, plays a key role in export promotion, quality control, traceability, and market access.
• Government initiatives such as the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have strengthened infrastructure, processing capacity, and sustainability in fisheries.

News Summary

• Recent official data show that India’s marine product exports increased by 16% in value and 12% in volume during April-October of FY 2025-26 compared to the same period last year.
• Export earnings rose from $4.19 billion to $4.87 billion, while export volumes expanded from 9.62 lakh metric tonnes to 10.73 lakh metric tonnes.
• This growth is notable because it occurred despite higher tariffs imposed by the United States, traditionally India’s largest seafood market.
• During the same period, exports to the U.S. declined marginally in both value and quantity, reflecting the impact of tariff-related trade barriers.
• However, Indian exporters successfully compensated for this decline by expanding shipments to alternative markets. Countries such as China, Vietnam, Belgium, Malaysia, and Germany recorded sharp increases in imports of Indian seafood.
• Exports to China rose to $845.67 million, indicating China’s growing importance as a destination market.
• Vietnam emerged as a standout market, registering over 100% growth in value and over 90% growth in volume, while Belgium also saw nearly 90% growth in imports.
• This eastward and European pivot reflects a deliberate diversification strategy adopted by exporters and policymakers.

Sign of Resilience

• Government departments, including the Fisheries and Commerce Ministries, have held regular consultations with exporters and MPEDA to identify new markets, resolve non-tariff barriers, and strengthen compliance with importing countries’ standards.
• Officials have described the sector’s performance as a sign of resilience, adaptability, and improved export competitiveness.
• Despite the U.S. market contraction, it remains India’s single largest seafood destination, underlining the importance of balancing diversification with market retention.
• Overall, the data suggest that India’s seafood sector is increasingly less vulnerable to single-market shocks and better positioned to navigate global trade uncertainties.