India’s marine products exports increased by 16% in terms of value and 12% in volume during the first seven months (April-October) of FY 2025-26 as compared to the corresponding period last fiscal, shows official data. According to the data, India’s seafood exports increased to $4.87 billion in April-October 2025 from $4.19 billion during the same period of 2024. In volume terms, it expanded from 9.62 lakh metric tonnes to 10.73 lakh metric tonnes, registering a growth of 12%.
The increase in seafood exports has seen an uptick at a time when the US, which is the biggest buyer of India’s Vannamei shrimp, has imposed tariffs. While there was a dip in the Indian seafood exports to the US during April-October 2025, it recorded a sharp increase in several other countries, including Vietnam, Belgium, Malaysia, and Germany.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Union Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan’ said the government has taken several measures in recent months to diversify India’s seafood export destinations. The Fisheries Ministry, along with Commerce Ministry, has been holding regular reviews with various stakeholders including exporters and the MPEDA to increase India’s seafood exports to alternative markets.
Among the countries which saw a sharp increase in the Indian seafood exports was Vietnam, which imported $359 million worth marine products during April-October 2025, an increase of 110% over $171.4 million during the corresponding period in 2024. Similarly, Belgium recorded an increase of 90% in the import of Indian seafood during the April-October 2025 as compared to the same period last year.
According to Fisheries Ministry officials, there’s a notable pivot eastward, with China becoming increasingly important (up 19% in value, 11% in quantity) and Vietnam showing explosive growth (110% value increase, 92% quantity increase). Meanwhile, the US, traditionally the largest market for Indian seafood, declined 4% in value — $1,493 million during April-October 2025 from $1,557 million the previous year — and 11% in quantity, though it remains the top destination.
As per the data, India’s seafood exports to China increased to $845.67 million during the first seven months of the current financial year as compared to $710.21 million in the last fiscal.
“India’s seafood sector has shown remarkable resilience despite the unprecedented 58% US tariff on shrimp,” said an official at the Fisheries Ministry.
