KOCHI. India’s seafood industry can explore new markets to counter the impact of upcoming U.S. tariff hikes on Indian goods, said Shri D.V. Swamy, Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
Speaking at a press conference ahead of MPEDA’s 53rd anniversary, Swamy highlighted the sector’s ability to bounce back from challenges. He noted that the government has identified Russia, the UK, the European Union, Norway, Switzerland, the Middle East, and South Korea as new target markets for seafood exports.
“Challenges are opportunities in disguise,” Swamy said. “We grow stronger by learning from them.” MPEDA, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, supports the export of marine products.
India’s seafood industry has a history of adapting over the past 50 years, Swamy said, urging the need to diversify products. He pointed out that Ecuador could become a strong competitor in the global market.
The U.S. and China are currently the top buyers of Indian seafood. In 2024-25, India exported 1,698,170 metric tonnes of seafood worth Rs 62,408.45 crore (US$ 7.45 billion). Frozen shrimp led the exports, with 311,948 metric tonnes to the U.S. and 136,164 metric tonnes to China, making it the top item by volume and value.
Swamy recalled how India overcame the “black tiger shrimp crisis” earlier this century, a time when farmed seafood production dropped sharply. Today, black tiger shrimp and scampi are among the growing export varieties.
Other major exports include frozen fish (20%), frozen squid, frozen cuttlefish, chilled items, and live items, with frozen shrimp accounting for 44% of the total.
In 2024-25, Andhra Pradesh led seafood exports with a value of US$ 2,536.77 million, followed by Tamil Nadu (US$ 840.11 million), Kerala (US$ 829.42 million), Gujarat (US$ 702.75 million), West Bengal (US$ 518.71 million), and Telangana (US$ 73.44 million).
MPEDA has boosted its global presence over the past 11 years, participating in international trade fairs in the U.S., Spain, Germany, China, Japan, Korea, Russia, and Dubai. “In the last five years, we organized 92 buyer-seller meets and sent 12 exporter delegations abroad,” Swamy said.
Among India’s ports, Visakhapatnam handled the most exports (31.52%), followed by Navi Mumbai’s JNPT (10.81%), Kochi (9.70%), Chennai (7.75%), and Kolkata (7.49%). The next Seafood Bharat Expo, an annual event, is set for July 1-3, 2026, in Chennai. This year’s expo, also in Chennai, featured 116 stalls from 70 exhibitors, 2,700 delegates, and 1,063 visitors.
Swamy praised the west coast’s natural resources and work culture, which support the industry’s growth. He highlighted Kochi’s long trading history and evolving ecosystem, which have worked hand-in-hand with MPEDA’s efforts.
Based in Kochi, MPEDA focuses on boosting seafood exports while ensuring quality and sustainability in India’s marine products industry.
