India's Seafood Exports Hit Record ₹72K Cr: Goyal-Lalan Meet

In a strategic huddle in the national capital, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal joined forces with Fisheries Minister Lalan Singh to chart the course for supercharging India's seafood export engine. The Thursday discussion zeroed in on opportunities to amplify exports and uplift fishermen's earnings across the country. Goyal shared insights via social media, noting their shared resolve for sustainable practices and cutting-edge innovations. This comes amid stellar export figures: MPEDA's provisional data shows FY 2025-26 seafood shipments reaching an unprecedented ₹72,325.82 crore, with 19.32 lakh MT in volume. Frozen shrimp stole the show, raking in ₹47,973.13 crore—more than 66% of total earnings. Volume grew 4.6%, value by 6.35%, per the Fisheries Ministry. While the US market, valued at $2.32 billion, faced declines of 19.8% in volume and 14.5% in value from tariffs, gains elsewhere compensated. China surged ahead with 22.7% value growth and 20.1% volume increase. The EU and Southeast Asia also delivered impressive upticks, diversifying India's export footprint. Lalan Singh had previously stressed expanding market reach, product diversity, and compliance with global standards like antibiotic bans and traceability. These steps are pivotal to counter challenges and tap into high-value opportunities. This high-level dialogue signals a renewed vigor in policy-making, poised to transform India's fisheries sector into a global powerhouse, fostering jobs and prosperity for millions.