India’s seafood exports have recorded an increase of 4.87 per cent at 875,791 tonnes during April 2014 to January 2015. Exports in dollar terms were up by 11.84 per cent to $4.72 billion, as compared to $4.22 billion.

During the same period last year, seafood exports were recorded at 835,125 tonnes, the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said in a statement released at Aqua Aquaria 2015. MPEDA attributed the growth to increase production and export of L.Vannamei shrimps.

Frozen shrimps continued as principle item in exports with 17.43 per cent growth at 300,147 tonnes, as compared to 255,603 tonnes exported in the same period last year.

The increase in frozen shrimps was due to increased and export of cultured L.Vannamei shrimps. About 85 per cent of L.Vannamei shrimps are exported from Andhra Pradesh.

Export of frozen cuttle fish has also shown tremendous growth with 19.67 per cent growth at 69,966 tonnes, against 58,465 tonnes exported during the same period last year.

However, frozen fish export decrease by 3.2 per cent at 268,922 tonnes, as compared to 277,824 tonnes exported during April 2013 to January 2014.

US was the biggest market with 26.42 per cent share, followed by South East Asia with 25.69 per cent, European Union with 20.77 per cent, Japan with 8.97 per cent, other countires 8.52 per cent, middle east with 5.80 per cent and China with 3.84 per cent.

Export to US has increased by 10.64 per cent and was the biggest market for Indian cultured shrimps with 42.09 per cent. The share of L.Vannamei shrimps to South East Asian countries was about 16.48 per cent and European union was 18.11 per cent.

Aqua Aquaria 2015, a biennial international aquaculture event, was organised in Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh from February 20 to 22, 2015 by MPEDA.

Source:thefishsite.com