India seafood exports hit record ₹73,890 crore in FY26, says Piyush Goyal
Synopsis
India's Blue Economy just posted its biggest year yet — ₹73,890 crore in seafood exports, a 145% jump since 2014, and frozen shrimp alone hauling in ₹49,038 crore. But there's a wrinkle: shipments to the US, the single largest buyer, slipped in both value and volume, hinting that the next phase of growth depends on how fast India can pivot to China, the EU, and beyond.
Key Takeaways
India's seafood exports hit an all-time high of 19.72 lakh metric tonnes worth ₹73,890 crore ($8.46 billion) in FY 2025-26 .
Piyush Goyal said seafood exports have jumped nearly 145% since FY 2013-14 .
Frozen shrimp contributed ₹49,038 crore or 66.5% of total seafood export earnings.
The United States remained the top market at $2.33 billion , though shipments fell in value and volume year-on-year.
Jawahar announced the figures on 1 June 2025 .
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday, 3 June said India's Blue Economy is emerging as a powerful engine of growth, propelled by record seafood exports and rising global demand for Indian marine products. Speaking from New Delhi, the minister noted that seafood exports have surged nearly 145 per cent since FY 2013-14, with shipments touching an all-time high in FY 2025-26.
What the Minister Said
“Our fisherfolk are benefiting from expanded markets and rising exports, with seafood exports reaching an all-time high in FY 2025-26. With nearly 145 per cent jump in exports since FY 2013-14, India's Blue Economy is emerging as a powerful engine of growth,” Goyal said. He framed the gains as evidence that India's fisherfolk are gaining wider market access at a time of uncertain global trade conditions.
Record numbers in FY 2025-26
According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), India exported 19.72 lakh metric tonnes of seafood in the fiscal year, valued at ₹73,890 crore ($8.46 billion) — the highest ever recorded by the sector. MPEDA Chairman P. Jawahar, announcing the figures on 1 June, said the milestone was achieved despite volatile demand patterns and persistent market uncertainties.
Frozen shrimp drives the basket
Frozen shrimp continued to anchor India's export mix, accounting for more than two-thirds of total earnings. Shrimp shipments generated ₹49,038 crore ($5.62 billion), or 66.5 per cent of foreign exchange earnings from seafood. Frozen shrimp volumes climbed to 7.93 lakh metric tonnes, with the United States, China, and the European Union as the top buyers.
US slowdown signals a shifting map
The United States retained its position as India's largest seafood market by value, importing shipments worth $2.33 billion. However, exports to the US fell in both value and volume compared with the previous year, reflecting pricing pressures and shifting demand dynamics. The decline comes amid tariff uncertainty and softer US consumer demand for premium shrimp categories.
What's next
With the US market softening, industry watchers say diversification toward China, the EU, and emerging Asian markets will likely shape FY 2026-27 strategy. The government is expected to lean further on the Blue Economy framework to push aquaculture productivity and value-added processing.
Point of View
But the more telling number is the US slowdown buried in the same dataset. Frozen shrimp is two-thirds of the basket and the US is its largest single market — that concentration is a structural risk, not a strength. India's Blue Economy story will be tested less by record totals and more by whether MPEDA can engineer genuine market and product diversification before tariff cycles or a US demand dip cut deeper. Aquaculture productivity and value-added processing, not raw volume, are the next frontier.
NationPress
10 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What were India's seafood exports in FY 2025-26?
India exported 19.72 lakh metric tonnes of seafood worth ₹73,890 crore ($8.46 billion) in FY 2025-26, the highest ever recorded. The figures were announced by MPEDA on 1 June 2025.
Why did Piyush Goyal call the Blue Economy a growth engine?
Goyal pointed to a nearly 145% jump in seafood exports since FY 2013-14 and record shipments in FY 2025-26 as evidence of the sector's expanding global footprint. He said Indian fisherfolk are benefiting from wider market access and rising demand.
Which product dominates India's seafood exports?
Frozen shrimp dominates, accounting for 66.5% of total seafood export earnings at ₹49,038 crore ($5.62 billion). Shrimp export volumes reached 7.93 lakh metric tonnes in FY 2025-26.
Why did exports to the United States decline?
Shipments to the US fell in both value and volume compared with the previous year, reflecting pricing pressures and shifting market dynamics. The US still remained India's largest seafood market by value at $2.33 billion.
Who are India's top seafood buyers?
The United States is the largest buyer by value, followed by China and the European Union. These three markets together absorb the bulk of India's frozen shrimp exports.
