India exports 11,49,510 MT of seafood during 2020-21

During the financial year 2020-21, India exported 11,49,510 MT of Seafood worth US$ 5.96 Billion. USA and China are the major importers of Indian seafood. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major export item followed by frozen fish.

Export summary are given in the Table.1

The Covid Pandemic has not spared the seafood sector as well. Though the seafood export was drastically affected during the first half of the year, the sector revived well and has shown improvement in the last quarter of the year. However, the seafood export during this year has declined by 6.30% in rupee terms, 10.81% in US dollar value terms and 10.87% in quantity terms. The average unit value remained almost same compared to last year.

The decadal export performance of marine products is given as Fig.1.

Figure.1 Decadal performance of Marine Products Exports

 

Aquaculture sector has performed better this year as evident from the figures given in Table.2. The aquaculture sector has contributed 67.98% of exported items in terms of US$ and 46.44% in terms of quantity which is 4.40% and 2.48% respectively more when compared to 2019-20. Capture fisheries contribution reduced from 56.03% to 53.56% in terms of quantity and reduced from 36.42% to 32.02% in terms of US$ value. The unit value of aquaculture products increased by marginal value 0.1 US$ from 7.49 to 7.59 US$ but the unit value of capture fisheries items reduced marginally from 3.37 to 3.10 US$.

It is pertinent to note that Tilapia and Ornamental fish has performed well with 55.83% and 66.55% increase respectively in quantity and 38.07% and 14.63% respectively increase in US$ earnings. Tuna, though showed 14.6% increase in quantity, it showed a negative growth of 7.39% in US$ earnings. Scampi and Crab exports reduced both in quantity and value. Please see Table.3 for details.

Major Item wise exports details

Frozen shrimp continued to be the major item of export in terms of quantity and value, accounting for a share of 51.36 % in quantity and 74.31% of the total USD earnings. But the Unit value increase of frozen shrimp was almost inconspicuous at 0.04% from 7.496 to 7.499 and Shrimp exports during the period declined by 9.47% in USD value and 9.50% in quantity.

The overall export of shrimp during 2020-21 was to the tune of 5,90,275 MT worth USD 4,426.19 Million. USA is the largest importer (2,72,041 MT) of frozen shrimp followed by China (1,01,846 MT), European Union (70,133 MT), Japan (40,502 MT), South East Asia (38,389 MT), Middle East (29,108 MT) and  Other Countries (38,257 MT).

The export of Vannamei shrimp has decreased from 5,12,204 MT to 4,92,271 MT in 2020-21. Out of the total Vannamei shrimp exports, in USD value terms, about 56.37 % was exported to USA followed by 15.13% to China, 7.83% to European Union, 5.76 % to South East Asia, 4.96 % to Japan,  3.59 % to Middle East and 6.36% to Other Countries. Japan in this year is the major market for Black Tiger shrimp with a share of 39.68% in terms of USD value followed by USA (26.03%), south East Asia (9.32%) and European Union (8.95%) in USD, Middle East (6.04%), China (3.76%) and Others (6.23%).

Frozen Fish retained the second position as the largest export item, accounting for a share of 16.37% in quantity and 6.75% in USD earnings. This year the export of Frozen fish has declined by 15.76% in Quantity and 21.67% in terms of USD value.

Other Items was the third largest category that shown a marginal positive growth of 0.24%, 0.40% by quantity and rupee value respectively however declined in USD terms by 4.89%. This category was predominantly (75.70% in quantity and 66.21% by value) constituted by Surimi and Surimi analogue (imitation) products.

Frozen squid has shown a decline of 30.19%, 9%, and 13% in terms of quantity, rupee value and USD earnings respectively. However Unit value of realization has been appreciably increased by 24.62% from 3.59 to 4.47.

Export of Frozen Cuttlefish has shown a negative growth of 16.38 % in quantity, 19.08% in rupee value and 22.50% in USD terms

Dried items are the only items which have shown an increase of 1.47%, 17% and 11.46% in all terms quantity, rupee value and USD earnings, respectively. In addition, unit value of dried items has been positively increased by 9.84% from 1.67 to 1.83

Export of Chilled items has shown a decline of 16.89 %, 24.35% and 27.90% in terms of quantity, rupee value and USD earnings respectively. 

Live Items have shown a decline of 39.91%, 26.08% and 29.53% in terms of quantity, rupee and USD value respectively. However the unit value is increased by 17.26% from 6.37 to 7.47 USD this year. Export of Chilled and live items were negatively affected mainly due to the reduced air cargo connectivity resulted due to the Covid pandemic situation.

The details of major items of exports are given in the Table.4

 
 

Market wise export Details

USA retained the title as the major importer of Indian seafood with a share of 41.15% in terms of USD. USA imported 2,91,948 MT of seafood in the current financial year. Export to USA has showed a growth of 0.48 % in rupee value however declined by 4.34% and 4.35% in quantity and USD value terms respectively. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the principle item exported to USA with a share of 95.63% in USD value. Exports of Vannamei shrimp to USA showed a growth of 6.75% in quantity, 13.16% in rupee value and 7.81% in USD terms. The Black Tiger Shrimp exports to USA decreased by 70.96%, 63.33% and 65.24% in terms of Quantity, rupee value and USD terms respectively.

China continued to be the second largest market destination for Indian Seafood with a share of 15.77% in USD earnings and 19% in quantity terms. China imported 2,18,343 MT of Seafood worth USD  939.17 million. The export to China has  declined by 33.73%, 28.17% & 31.68% in quantity, rupee value and USD terms respectively. Frozen Shrimp is the major item of exports to China accounting a share of 46.64% in quantity and 61.87% in USD earnings.

European Union continued to be the third largest destination for Indian Seafood with a share of 13.80% in USD. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to EU accounting for a share of 45.91% in quantity and 58.38% in USD earnings out of the total exports to EU. Export of frozen shrimp to EU decreased by 5.27% and 6.48% in quantity and USD value.

South East Asia is the fourth largest market destination of Indian Marine products accounting for a share of 11.17% in USD terms. Overall exports to South East Asia declined by 2.55% in quantity 1.09% in rupee value and 5.72% in US $ earnings. 

Japan is the fifth largest destination for Indian Seafood with a share of 6.92% in USD earnings and 7.55% in quantity terms. Exports to Japan have shown a positive growth of 10.58% in quantity terms and 3.87% in rupee value terms however, shown a decline of 2.40 % in USD terms. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to Japan accounting a share of 46.65% in quantity and 76.87% in USD earnings. Exports of Frozen shrimp to Japan increased by 3.95%, 1.54% in quantity, rupee value respectively however declined 3.94% in USD terms respectively.

Middle East is the sixth largest destination for Indian Seafood with a share of 4.22% in USD value terms. This market has shown a decline of 15.30%, 11.34%, 15.51% in quantity, rupee value and USD value respectively. Frozen Shrimp continued to be the major item of exports to Middle East accounting a share of 72.23% in USD earnings.

The exports to Other Countries showed a positive growth of 2.61% in terms of quantity terms however decreased by 0.93% by rupee terms and 5.36% in USD terms when compared to previous year. The other countries export basket contributed to a share of 6.98% in USD terms. Among other countries Canada (35.86%), Russia (20.27%),  Bangladesh (8.19%), Tunisia (6.64%), Dominican Republic (3.67%) together contributes almost 75% share in USD terms. 

The details on major markets for Indian marine products are given in the Table. 5 

 

 
 
 

Major Port wise Exports

Marine products were exported through 30 different sea/air/land ports. Vizag, Calcutta, Kochi, Krishnapatnam, and JNP are the major ports which have handled marine cargo. Major Port wise export details are given below. Vizag handled 28% of exports from India in US$ terms.

 

Major reasons for the decline in exports of marine products during 2020-21 in addition to Covid-19 impact are listed below, 

  1. Production side:
  1. Reduced fish landings due to less number of fishing days,  and the uncertainty among the fishers regarding the prices as exporters have reduced the purchase of raw materials, citing slow logistic movements and market uncertainties.
  2. Scarcity of laborers was a major issue in fishing and processing plants. Though aquaculture production was not affected, reduced logistics has affected the movement of consignments.
  3. Scarcity of containers at seaports was the major issue in logistics coupled with increased freight charges.
  4. Export of high value products like chilled and live products were significantly impacted due to the limited flight availability and high air freight costs.
  5. Scarcity of packaging, labeling material, allied products and services were also observed.

Market Side:

  1. China:  In addition to container shortage, increased freight charges, Covid-19 testing on the imported seafood consignments at the customs and local authority level increased the market uncertainties. Suspension of processing units with COVID positive results have created apprehension among exporters. But it is noticed from March 2021 onward the export situation is getting better.
  2. USA: Due to scarcity of containers it was difficult for exporters to execute orders, in time. Closure of HoReCa segment also affected the demand.

  3. EU: During the fiscal major EU countries has continued the locked down or movement restrictions. This has made the retail, restaurant, supermarkets and hotel consumption sluggish. Feedback from importers indicates that Vietnam prices are much more competitive due to their Free Trade Agreement with EU.
  4. Japan: Covid-19 lock down, restrictions, state of emergency in major cities are some of the factors that affected the demand and consumption.

******