India's seafood exports reached an all-time high in both volume and value during 2025-26, with the sector shipping 19.72 lakh metric tonnes worth ₹73,890 crore ($8.46 billion) to international markets. The record, announced by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), underscores the industry's resilience against volatile global trade conditions and cements India's standing as a leading marine products supplier worldwide.

Record Figures at a Glance

MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar said the landmark performance was achieved despite persistent headwinds, including unpredictable demand patterns and pricing pressures in key markets. The previous record had already positioned India among the world's top seafood exporters, and the 2025-26 figures push that benchmark further. Both volume and value hitting simultaneous highs signals structural growth, not merely a price-driven spike.

Shrimp Dominates the Export Basket

Frozen shrimp retained its commanding position, generating ₹49,038 crore ($5.62 billion) and contributing 66.5% of total foreign exchange earnings from seafood. Export volumes of frozen shrimp climbed to 7.93 lakh metric tonnes. The United States remained the largest buyer of Indian shrimp, with frozen shrimp alone accounting for more than 93% of India's seafood shipments to the American market.

Frozen fish was the second-largest export category at $644 million, while dried seafood emerged as a standout growth segment, recording a sharp jump in earnings. Exports of frozen squid and cuttlefish also posted healthy gains, reflecting broadening demand across overseas markets.

Top Markets: US Leads by Value, China by Volume

The United States remained India's largest seafood market by value, importing seafood worth $2.33 billion. However, exports to the US registered a decline in both value and volume compared with the previous year, reflecting shifting market dynamics and pricing pressures — a trend worth watching given Washington's evolving trade posture.

China emerged as the largest destination by volume, absorbing 4.9 lakh metric tonnes valued at $1.61 billion. The European Union ranked third by value at $1.59 billion, followed by Southeast Asia at $1.35 billion. Japan and the Middle East rounded out the top six export destinations.

Ports, Livelihoods and Diversification

The top three ports handling seafood exports during the year were Visakhapatnam, Jawaharlal Nehru Port, and Kochi. The sector supports millions engaged in fishing, aquaculture, processing, and export activities across India's coastal states, making it a critical foreign exchange earner as well as a livelihood anchor.

The growing share of value-added products — dried seafood, squid, cuttlefish — points to a deliberate diversification away from near-total dependence on frozen shrimp, a shift industry bodies have long advocated. Whether the US volume decline proves a temporary blip or the beginning of a structural realignment toward China and Southeast Asia will define the sector's trajectory in 2026-27.