India’s seafood export sector has demonstrated remarkable strength, reaching a record high value of Rs 62,408 crore in 2024–25, reflecting a growth of 3.11 per cent over Rs 60,523.89 crore recorded in the previous fiscal year, the government said on Monday. The upward momentum has continued into FY26, even as Indian seafood faces significantly higher import duties in the United States.

At the same time, the country’s overall fish production has more than doubled over the past decade, rising from 95.79 lakh tonnes in 2013–14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024–25 — an increase of 106 per cent.

Beginning April 2025, the US sharply raised tariffs on Indian seafood products, particularly shrimp, which constitutes nearly 90 per cent of India’s seafood exports to the American market. The cumulative duty on shrimp exports has now reached 58.26 per cent. Despite this major trade disruption, the sector has continued to perform strongly.

Official data comparing the April–October period before and after the tariff hike show sustained growth. Between April–October 2024 and April–October 2025, seafood export earnings increased by 21 per cent, climbing from Rs 35,107.6 crore to Rs 42,322.3 crore, while export volumes grew by 12 per cent from 9.62 lakh metric tonnes to 10.73 lakh metric tonnes. Exports of frozen shrimp alone recorded a 17 per cent rise in value and a 6 per cent increase in volume during this period.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, these gains reflect the impact of consistent policy support and targeted government interventions over the past decade. Various fisheries-related schemes implemented since 2014–15 have helped generate approximately 74.66 lakh employment opportunities, both directly and indirectly.

India currently exports more than 350 varieties of seafood to around 130 countries. With aquaculture accounting for 62 per cent of export earnings, the country is steadily positioning itself as a global centre for premium and processed seafood products.

The ministry also highlighted rapid growth in value-added seafood exports, which now account for nearly 11 per cent of India’s total seafood export value. Over the past five years, exports in this category have surged by 56 per cent, increasing from Rs 4,863.40 crore to Rs 7,589.93 crore.

Supporting this expansion has been a significant rise in central government investment in the fisheries sector. Cumulative funding of Rs 38,572 crore has been approved or announced under key initiatives such as the Blue Revolution, the Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF), the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), and the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Kisan Samridhi Sah-Yojana (PMMKSSY).