India’s marine product exports hit record Rs57,586 crore in FY22

During FY 2020-21, India exported 11,49,510 tonnes of seafood worth Rs43,720.98 crore ($5,956.93 million).

K N Raghavan, chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), said India managed to do all time high exports export worth $7.76 billion with volume of 13,69,264 MT of seafood, despite the challenges caused by the Covid pandemic.

Frozen shrimp remained the major export item in terms of quantity and value. Frozen shrimp, which earned Rs42,706.04 crore ($5,828.59 million), accounted for a share of 53.18 per cent in quantity and 75.11 per cent of the total dollar earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 31.68 per cent in dollar value and 23.35 per cent in quantity.

Overall export of frozen shrimps during 2021-22 was pegged at 7,28,123 tonnes. USA, the largest market, imported (3,42,572 tonnes) of frozen shrimp, followed by China (1,25,667 tonnes), European Union (90,549 tonnes), South East Asia (44,683 tonnes), Japan (38,492 tonnes), and the Middle East (37,158 tommes). Export of frozen shrimp showed increase in all the markets by value.

The export of Vannamei (white leg) shrimp increased from 5,15,907 tonnes to 6,43,037 tonnes in 2021-22. Of the total Vannamei shrimp exports, USA accounted for 59.05 per cent, followed by China (14.59 per cent), European Union (8.16 per cent), South East Asia (4.78 per cent), Japan (3.61 per cent), and the Middle East (3.17 per cent). USA also turned out to be the major market for Black Tiger shrimp with a share of 25.90 per cent in terms of dollar value, followed by European Union (23.78 per cent) and Japan (22.71 per cent). 

Other items, the second largest export item, fetched Rs 3,979.99 crore ($540.73 million), accounting for 12.96 per cent in quantity and 6.97 per cent in dollar earnings. The export of other items increased by 43.8 per cent in rupee value and 42.94 per cent in dollar value. Other items comprising surimi and surimi analogue products accounted for 56.55 per cent in dollar terms.

Frozen fish, the third largest export item, fetched Rs3471.91 crore ($471.45 million), accounting for 16.55 per cent in quantity and 6.08 per cent in dollar earnings. Export of frozen fish increased by 20.44 per cent in quantity and 17.19 per cent in dollar value.

Export of frozen squid, pegged at 75,750 tonnes, showed a growth of 23.82 per cent in quantity and 40.24 per cent in dollar terms, and earned Rs2,806.09 crore ($383.37 million).

Export of frozen cuttlefish, pegged at 58,992 tonnes, showed a growth of 26.83 per cent in rupee value and 26.18 per cent in dollar value, and earned Rs2062.63 crore ($280.08 million). 

Export of dried Items, pegged at 73,679 tonnes, showed a growth of 28.27 per cent in rupee value but lower at 8.59 per cent in dollar value, and earned Rs1472.98 crore ($143.46 million). 

Export of chilled items, which is considered a promising sector, increased by 23.08 per cent in quantity terms and 53.45 per cent in rupee terms but declined 1.87 per cent in dollar terms. 

Export of live Items, pegged at 7,032 yonnes, showed a growth of 60.57 per cent in quantity, 47.43 per cent in rupee value and 46.67 per cent in dollar terms. 

Unit value realisation of frozen shrimp, frozen cuttlefish, frozen squid, dried items and other items has shown positive trend.

USA continued to be the major importer of Indian seafood in value and volume terms with imports worth $3371.66 million, accounting for a share of 37.56 per cent  in terms of dollar value. Exports to US recorded a growth of 27.63 per cent in quantity, 36.76 per cent in rupee value and 37.56 per cent in dollar earnings. Frozen shrimp continued to be the principal item exported to US and the exports of Vannamei shrimp showed a growth of 26.81 per cent in quantity and 34.65 per cent in dollar terms. Exports of black tiger shrimp to US increased by 68.99 per cent in quantity terms and 152.06 per cent in dollar terms.

China emerged as the second largest seafood export destination from India in terms of quantity with import of 2,66,989 tonnes worth $1,175.05 million, accounting for 19.50 per cent in quantity and 15.14 per cent in dollar terms. Exports to China market grew 22.28 per cent in quantity and 31.09 per cent in rupee value and 25.12 per cent in dllar value. Of the total exports to China, frozen shrimp, the major item of exports to China, had a share of 47.07 per cent in quantity and 67.04 per cent in dollar value while frozen fish had a share of 32.10 per cent in terms of quantity and 15.19 per cent in terms of value. Frozen shrimp to China has shown positive trend both in quantity and volume.

European Union continued to be the third largest destination for Indian seafood with frozen shrimp, with the major item of exports recording an increase of 29.11 per cent and 37.09 per cnt in quantity and dollar value, respectively. 

South East Asia was the fourth largest market for frozen shrimp, the major item of exports, with 18.36 per cent share in quantity and 36.81 per cent in dollar value with growth of 22.29 per cent. Frozen fish, the second major item of export, with 33.42 per cent share in quantity and 21.42 per cent in dollar value with growth of 82.24 per cent.

Japan continued to be the fifth largest importer with a share of 5.68 per cent in dollar value and 6.60 per cent in quantity, posting a growth of 6.95 per cent in dollar value. Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to Japan with a share of 74.55 per cent and growth of 3.73 per cent in dollar value.

Exports to the Middle East also showed a growth of 20.2 per cent in quantity, 21.27 per cent in rupee and 20.7 per cent in dollar terms.