India’s marine product exports clocks an all-time high, over 30% increment recorded

New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): India’s marine product exports recorded an all-time high for the year 2021-22, informed the officials on Wednesday. The growth clocked a high of over 30 per cent rounding Rs.57,586.48 crores (USD 7.76 billion).

“India shipped 13,69,264 metric tons of seafood worth Rs 57,586.48 crore (USD 7.76 billion) during 2021-22, despite heavy odds. During the FY 2021-22, the export improved in rupee terms by 31.71per cent, in USD terms by 30.26 per cent and in quantity terms by 19.12 per cent. In 2020-21, India had exported 11,49,510 metric tons of seafood worth Rs 43,720.98 crore (USD 5,956.93 million),” read an official statement.

The Frozen shrimp remained the major export item in terms of quantity and value. Frozen shrimp, which earned Rs 42,706.04 crore (USD 5,828.59 million), accounted for a share of 53.18 per cent in quantity and 75.11 per cent of the total dollar earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 31.68 per cent in USD value and 23.35 per cent in quantity.

The Chairman of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) K N Raghavan lauded the performance.

“India managed to do all-time high exports export worth US$ 7.76 billion with volume of 13,69,264 MT of seafood, despite the several challenges in its major export markets caused by the Covid pandemic,” said Raghavan.

The export of Vannamei (white leg) shrimp increased from 5,15,907 MT to 6,43,037 MT in 2021-22. Of the total Vannamei shrimp exports in USD value terms, USA accounted for 59.05%, followed by China (14.59 %), European Union (8.16 %), South East Asia (4.78 %), Japan (3.61 %), and the Middle East (3.17 %). USA also turned out to be the major market for Black Tiger shrimp with a share of 25.90% in terms of USD value, followed by European Union (23.78%) and Japan (22.71%).

Other items, the second largest export item, fetched Rs 3,979.99 crore (USD 540.73 million), accounting for 12.96% in quantity and 6.97 % in dollar earnings. The export of other items increased by 43.8 % cent in rupee value and 42.94 % in dollar value. Other items comprise surimi and surimi analogue products by 56.55% in USD terms.

Frozen fish, the third largest export item, fetched Rs 3471.91 crore (USD 471.45 million), accounting for 16.55 per cent in quantity and 6.08 per cent in dollar earnings. The export of frozen fish increased by 20.44% in quantity and 17.19 % in dollar value.

Export of frozen squid, pegged at 75,750 MT, showed a growth of 23.82% in quantity and 40.24 per cent in dollar terms, and earned Rs 2,806.09 crore (383.37 USD millions).

Export of frozen cuttlefish, pegged at 58,992 MT, showed a growth of 26.83 % in rupee value and 26.18 % in USD value, and earned Rs 2062.63 crore (280.08 USD millions).

Export of dried Items, pegged at 73,679 MT, showed a growth of 28.27 % in rupee value but declined 8.59 % in USD value, and earned Rs 1472.98 crore (143.46 USD millions).

Export of chilled items, which is considered as a promising sector, also increased by 23.08 % in quantity terms and 53.45 % in rupee terms but declined 1.87 per cent in USD terms.

Export of live Items, pegged at 7,032 MT, showed a growth of 60.57% in quantity, 47.43% in rupee value and 46.67% in USD terms.

The unit value realization of frozen shrimp, frozen cuttlefish, frozen squid, dried items and other items has shown positive growth.

The major importers included USA, China, EU, South East Asia, Japan and the Middle East.

As for overseas markets, USA continued to be the major importer of Indian seafood in value and volume term both with an import worth USD 3371.66 million, accounting for a share of 37.56 per cent in terms of dollar value.

China emerged as the second largest seafood export destination from India in terms of quantity with an import of 2,66,989 MT worth USD 1,175.05 million, accounting for 19.50 per cent in quantity and 15.14 per cent in dollar terms.Frozen shrimp, the major item of exports to China, had a share of 47.07per cent in quantity. Frozen shrimp to China has shown positive growth in quantity and volume.

European Union continued to be the third-largest destination for Indian seafood with frozen shrimp, the major item of exports, registering an increase of 29.11 per cent and 37.09 per cent in quantity and dollar value, respectively.

South-East Asia is the fourth largest market. frozen shrimp, the major item of exports, with 18.36 per cent share by quantity and 36.81 per cent by USD value with growth of 22.29 per cent. Frozen fish, the second major item of exports, with 33.42 per cent share by quantity and 21.42 per cent by USD value with growth of 82.24 per cent.

Japan continued to be the fifth largest importer with a share of 5.68 per cent in USD value terms and 6.60 per cent in quantity, registering a growth of 6.95 per cent in USD value. Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to Japan with per cent share of 74.55 per cent and growth of 3.73 per cent in USD value.

Exports to the Middle East also showed a growth of 20.2 per cent in quantity, 21.27per cent in rupee and 20.7 per cent in dollar terms. (ANI)