USA the largest importer of Indian seafood followed by China, EU, South East Asia, Japan and Middle East
India achieved an all-time high exports of seafood both in terms of volume and value by shipping 17,35,286 MT of seafood worth Rs 63,969.14 crore ($8.09 billion) during FY 2022-23 despite the several challenges in its major export markets like USA.
Frozen shrimp remained the major export item in terms of both quantity and value while USA and China turned out to be the major importers of India’s seafood. Frozen shrimp, which earned Rs 43,135.58 crore ($5481.63 million), retained its position as the most significant item in the basket of seafood exports.
The overall export of frozen shrimps during 2022-23 was pegged at 7,11,099 MT. USA, the largest market, imported (2,75,662 MT) of frozen shrimp, followed by China (1,45,743 MT), European Union (95,377 MT), South East Asia (65,466 MT), Japan (40,975 MT), and the Middle East (31,647 MT).
Black tiger (BT) shrimp exported to the tune of 31,213 MT worth Rs 2,564.71 crore ($ 321.23 million). Japan turned out to be the major market for Black Tiger shrimp. The Vannamei shrimp exports declined in 2022-23 compared to 2021-22 by 8.11% from $ 5234.36 million to $ 4809.99 million.
On the other hand, Frozen Fish, the second largest exported item, fetched Rs 5,503.18 crore ($ 687.05 million).
Under Other items, the third largest export basket worth $658.84 million, Surimi fetched Rs 2,013.66 crore ($ 253.89 million), frozen Octopus fetched Rs 725.71 crore ($ 91.74 million), Surimi Analogue products fetched Rs 558.51 crore ($ 70.35 million), canned products fetched Rs 326.48 crore ($ 41.56 million), frozen lobster fetched Rs 215.15 crore ($ 27 million), along with other products.
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