India's Seafood Exports Reach Record High in 2025-26, Official Figures Indicate

India Sets New Record for Seafood Exports in 2025-26

India's seafood exports have reached a record high in both volume and value for the fiscal year 2025-26, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The country exported a total of 19,72,018 metric tonnes of seafood worth Rs 73,890.46 crore ($8.46 billion), despite global challenges.

The MPEDA, a statutory body established under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, has been instrumental in promoting and regulating the export of marine products. The authority has reported that the United States and China remained the top importers of Indian seafood during the fiscal year.

Frozen shrimp continued to dominate the export basket, generating Rs 49,037.93 crore ($5,624.48 million) and accounting for 40.19% of the total quantity exported and 66.52% of total dollar earnings from seafood exports. India exported 7,92,647 MT of frozen shrimp during 2025-26, registering a growth of 13.16% in rupee terms and 8.64% in dollar terms.

Read also: Treasury Yields Experience Largest Increase in Two Weeks Following Release of Labor Market Data

The United States remained the largest market for frozen shrimp, importing 2,56,128 MT, followed by China (1,69,505 MT), the European Union (1,35,599 MT), Southeast Asia (83,810 MT), Japan (40,776 MT), the Middle East (30,478 MT), and other countries (76,351 MT).

Other notable export categories include frozen fish, earning Rs 5,658.37 crore ($643.70 million), and dried products, emerging as the third-largest export category with earnings of Rs 5,079.09 crore ($577.44 million). Exports of dried products recorded a 78.05% increase in rupee value.

Among overseas markets, the United States remained the leading importer of Indian seafood in value terms, importing 2,79,193 MT worth Rs 20,263.27 crore ($2,328.74 million). However, exports to the US declined by 10.82% in rupee value, 14.22% in dollar value, and 19.51% in volume.

Read also: US-Iran Tensions Spark Uptick in Oil Prices Amid Global Market Decline

China emerged as the largest destination in volume terms, importing 4,90,369 MT worth $1,611.32 million. The European Union remained the third-largest destination in dollar terms, importing 2,97,518 MT worth $1,592.09 million.

The top three ports handling seafood cargo during the year were Visakhapatnam Port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), and Kochi Port.