The exported volume in the analysed period (April 1, 2016-March 31, 2017) experienced a 20 per cent growth, to 1.13 million and the value in dollars increased by 23 per cent, to USD 5.78 billion from USD 4.69 billion in the previous fiscal year.

 

The United States and South East Asia continue to be the major importers and the demand from the European Union (EU) also increased substantially during the period, the Business Standard reported.

 

Frozen shrimp maintained its position as the top export item, accounting for 38.28 per cent in quantity and 64.50 per cent of the total earnings in dollar terms. Shrimp exports increased by 16.21 per cent in terms of quantity and 20.33 per cent in dollar terms.

 

Frozen fish was the second largest export item, accounting for a share of 26.15 per cent in quantity and 11.64 per cent in dollar earnings, registering a growth of 26.92 per cent in terms of value.

 

The US imported 188.617 tonnes of Indian seafood, accounting for 29.98 per cent in terms of dollar. Export to that country registered a growth of 22.72 per cent, 33 per cent and 29.82 per cent in terms of quantity, value in rupee and US dollars, respectively. 

 

South East Asia remained the second largest destination of India's marine products, with a share of 29.91 per cent in dollar terms, followed by the EU (17.98 per cent), Japan (6.83 per cent), the Middle East (4.78 per cent), China (3.50 per cent) and other countries (7.03 per cent).

 

Overall, exports to South East Asia increased by 47.41 per cent in quantity, 52.84 per cent in rupee value and 49.90 per cent in dollar earnings.

 

“Increased production of L. vannamei, diversification of aquaculture species, sustained measures to ensure quality, and increase in infrastructure facilities for production of value added products were largely responsible for India's positive growth in exports of seafood,” pointed out Nirmala Sitharaman, Minister for Commerce and Industry.

 

The export of L. vannamei shrimp registered a growth of 28.46 per cent in quantity during the 2016-2017 fiscal year. In value terms, 49.55 per cent of total Vannamei shrimp was exported to the US followed by 23.28 per cent to South East Asian countries, 13.17 per cent to the EU, 4.53 per cent to Japan, 3.02 per cent to the Middle East and 1.35 per cent to China.

 

Japan was the major market for black tiger shrimp with a share of 43.84 per cent in terms of value, followed by the US (23.44 per cent) and South East Asia (11.33 per cent). Frozen shrimp continued to be the principal export item to the US with a share of 94.77 per cent in dollar value while Vannamei shrimp to that country showed an increase of 25.60 per cent in quantity and 31.75 per cent in dollar terms.

 

Vietnam, with a share of 76.57 per cent in value, was the major South East Asian market for Indian marine products, followed by Thailand (12.93 per cent), Taiwan (3.88 per cent), Malaysia (2.60 per cent), Singapore (2.21 per cent), South Korea (1.50 per cent) and other countries (0.30 per cent). 

 

The EU continued to be the third largest destination for Indian marine products with a share of 16.73 per cent in quantity. Frozen shrimp was the major item of exports, accounting for 40.66 per cent in quantity and 55.15 per cent in dollar earnings out of the total exports to the EU. Exports of Vannamei shrimp to the EU improved by 9.76 per cent in quantity and 11.40 per cent in dollar value.

 

Japan, the fourth largest destination for Indian seafood, accounted for 6.83 per cent in earnings and 6.08 per cent in quantity terms. Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to Japan with a share of 45.31 per cent in quantity and 77.29 per cent in value out of the total exports to that country.

 

Besides, frozen shrimp and frozen fish, India's other major seafood product was frozen squid, which recorded a growth of 21.50 per cent, 59.44 per cent and 57 per cent in terms of quantity, rupee value and dollar earnings, respectively. 

 

On the other hand, export of frozen cuttlefish showed a decline in quantity terms, but increased in the rupee value and dollar terms by 18.85 per cent and 16.95 per cent, respectively.

 

Dried items registered a growth of 40.98 per cent, 20.14 per cent and 79.05 per cent in terms of quantity, rupee value and dollar terms, respectively.