New Delhi: India’s seafood exports surged to an all-time high in FY 2025-26, underlining the sector’s resilience amid volatile global trade conditions and uneven demand across key markets. The country exported 19,72,018 metric tonnes (MT) of seafood worth ₹73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion) during the fiscal year, achieving record levels in both volume and value.
“India exported 19,72,018 metric tonnes (MT) of seafood valued at ₹73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion) during FY 2025-26, registering an all-time high in both volume and value despite challenging global market conditions,” said P. Jawahar, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
The performance reflects the growing competitiveness of India’s seafood industry, even as exporters navigated inflationary pressures, shifting consumer demand patterns and geopolitical uncertainties across global markets. The United States and China continued to be the principal importers of Indian seafood during the year.
Frozen shrimp retained its position as the undisputed growth engine of India’s seafood exports. The category generated export earnings of ₹49,037.93 crore ($5,624.48 million), accounting for 40.19% of the total export quantity and 66.52% of total export earnings in dollar terms. During FY 2025-26, shrimp exports recorded growth of 13.16% in rupee value and 8.64% in dollar value.
India exported 7,92,647 MT of frozen shrimp during the fiscal year. The United States remained the largest market for Indian frozen shrimp, importing 2,56,128 MT. China followed with imports of 1,69,505 MT, while the European Union imported 1,35,599 MT. Southeast Asia purchased 83,810 MT, Japan imported 40,776 MT, the Middle East accounted for 30,478 MT, and other countries collectively imported 76,351 MT.
Exports of both White and Black Tiger shrimp varieties registered growth in volume and value, reinforcing India’s dominance in the global shrimp trade.
Frozen fish emerged as the second-largest seafood export category, generating ₹5,658.37 crore ($643.70 million). Dried seafood products ranked third, earning ₹5,079.09 crore ($577.44 million) and delivering one of the strongest growth performances in the sector, with rupee-value growth of 78.05%.
India’s cephalopod exports also posted encouraging gains. Frozen squid exports reached 1,02,060 MT and generated ₹4,493.80 crore ($513.84 million). Frozen cuttlefish exports rose across both volume and value metrics, with quantities increasing by 13.32% and dollar earnings growing by 16.25%. Total frozen cuttlefish exports stood at 67,157 MT, valued at $331.96 million.
Meanwhile, exports of chilled products earned ₹622.31 crore ($71.27 million). The live seafood segment also expanded steadily, with export earnings rising 11.46% in dollar terms to reach $62.43 million.
On the market front, the United States remained India’s largest seafood destination in value terms. Imports from India were valued at ₹20,263.27 crore ($2,328.74 million), with total volumes reaching 2,79,193 MT. However, shipments to the US declined across all major parameters, falling 10.82% in rupee value, 14.22% in dollar value and 19.51% in volume.
Despite the decline, frozen shrimp continued to dominate India’s seafood trade with the US, accounting for 93.55% of the total value of seafood exports to the country.
China emerged as the largest destination by volume, importing 4,90,369 MT of Indian seafood valued at $1,611.32 million. The market’s strong appetite for bulk seafood imports helped offset weakness in some developed economies and provided exporters with a critical growth avenue.
The European Union remained the third-largest destination in value terms, importing 2,97,518 MT worth $1,592.09 million. Southeast Asia followed closely, importing 4,51,756 MT valued at $1,348.97 million. Japan maintained its position as the fifth-largest importer, purchasing 1,05,228 MT worth $452.91 million, while the Middle East ranked sixth with imports of 76,743 MT valued at $283 million.
The export logistics ecosystem also played a crucial role in supporting the sector’s record performance. Visakhapatnam (Vizag), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) and Kochi emerged as the top three ports handling seafood export cargo during FY 2025-26.
The latest figures underscore the increasing diversification of India’s seafood export basket and destination markets. While frozen shrimp continues to dominate earnings, robust growth in dried seafood, squid, cuttlefish and live products points to a broadening export base. With global demand patterns evolving and emerging markets gaining prominence, India’s seafood industry appears to be strengthening its position as one of the world’s leading marine product exporters.