New Delhi, June 29 (FN Agency) India’s marine product exports grew by 30 per cent in financial year 2021-22, data released by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry showed on Wednesday. India shipped 13,69,264 tonnes of seafood worth Rs 57,586.48 crore (USD 7.76 billion) during 2021-22, despite heavy odds. During FY 2021-22, the exports improved in rupee terms by 31.71 per cent and in USD terms by 30.26 per cent and in quantity terms by 19.12 per cent. In 2020-21, India exported 11,49,510 tonnes of seafood worth Rs 43,720.98 crore (USD 5,956.93 million). 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 overall export of frozen shrimps during 2021-22 was pegged at 7,28,123 tonnes. The US, the largest market, imported (3,42,572 tonnes) of frozen shrimp, followed by China (1,25,667 tonnes), European Union (90,549 tonnes), South East Asia (44,683 tonnes), Japan (38,492 tonnes) and the Middle East (37,158 tonnes). Exports of frozen shrimp showed an increase in all the markets by value.
The export of Vannamei (white leg) shrimp increased from 5,15,907 tonnes to 6,43,037 tonnes in 2021-22. Of the total Vannamei shrimp exports in USD value terms, the US accounted for 59.05 per cent, followed by China (14.59 per cent), European Union (8.16 per cent), South East Asia (4.78 per cent), Japan (3.61 per cent), and the Middle East (3.17 per cent). The US also turned out to be the major market for Black Tiger shrimp with a share of 25.90 per cent in terms of USD value, followed by the European Union (23.78 per cent) and Japan (22.71 per cent). 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 per cent in quantity and 17.19 per cent in dollar value. Export of frozen squid, pegged at 75,750 tonnes, showed a growth of 23.82 per cent in quantity and 40.24 per cent in dollar terms, and earned Rs 2,806.09 crore (383.37 USD million). Export of frozen cuttlefish, pegged at 58,992 tonnes, showed a growth of 26.83 per cent in rupee value and 26.18 per cent in USD value, and earned Rs 2,062.63 crore (280.08 USD million). Export of dried Items, pegged at 73,679 tonnes, showed a growth of 28.27 per cent in rupee value but declined 8.59 per cent in USD value, and earned Rs 1,472.98 crore (143.46 USD million). Export of chilled items, considered a promising sector, also increased by 23.08 per cent in quantity terms and 53.45 per cent in rupee terms but declined 1.87 per cent in USD terms. Export of live Items, pegged at 7,032 tonnes, showed a growth of 60.57 per cent in quantity, 47.43 per cent in rupee value and 46.67 per cent in USD terms.
The unit value realization of frozen shrimp, frozen cuttlefish, frozen squid, dried items and other items has shown a positive growth. As for overseas markets, the US continued to be the major importer of Indian seafood in value and volume term both with an import worth USD 3,371.66 million, accounting for a share of 37.56 per cent in terms of dollar value. Exports to the US registered a growth of 27.63 per cent in quantity, 36.76 per cent in rupee value and 37.56 per cent in USD earnings. China emerged as the second largest seafood export destination from India in terms of quantity with an import of 2,66,989 tonnes worth USD 1,175.05 million, accounting for 19.50 per cent in quantity and 15.14 per cent in dollar terms. The 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. K N Raghavan, Chairman, Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), said India managed to do all time high exports export worth USD 7.76 billion with volume of 13,69,264 tonnes of seafood, despite the several challenges in its major export markets caused by the Covid pandemic.