Piyush Goyal Discusses Measures to Boost Fish Exports in India

New Delhi, May 14: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal met with Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh, also known as Lalan Singh, on Thursday to discuss opportunities for enhancing fish exports in the country.

Both ministers deliberated on ways to increase the income of Indian fishermen. Goyal shared insights on social media following the co-chaired meeting with the fisheries minister.

He stated, “We reiterated our ongoing commitment to promote sustainable development in this sector and advance innovation.”

Earlier, Ranjan Singh highlighted the significant growth in India’s seafood exports, primarily due to improved performance in markets beyond the United States. He emphasized the need for market and product diversification, along with strict regulatory compliance, including adherence to antibiotic restrictions and strengthening traceability systems.

Recent provisional data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) revealed that India’s seafood exports reached a record ₹72,325.82 crore for the fiscal year 2025-26, with an export volume of 1.932 million metric tons.

Frozen shrimp remained the largest contributor to this growth, generating ₹47,973.13 crore, accounting for over two-thirds of total export earnings.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairy, shrimp exports saw an increase of 4.6% in volume and 6.35% in value, maintaining a strong share in seafood exports.

An official statement indicated that the United States remained the largest export market for Indian seafood, with total imports valued at $2.32 billion. However, there was a decline of 19.8% in volume and 14.5% in value of exports to the U.S., attributed to the impact of reciprocal tariffs.

Nonetheless, strong growth in alternative markets such as China, the European Union, and Southeast Asian countries compensated for this decline. Exports to China, India’s second-largest export destination, recorded a 22.7% increase in value and a 20.1% rise in volume.