India's export of seafood items jumped 20 per cent to $261 million in December, 2010 year-on-year on the rising demand from the US and Japan.
The marine exports stood at $217 million in December, 2009, according to Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) data.
"There is a good demand for marine products like shrimp and fish from the US and Japan markets," an MPEDA official said.
Of the country's total seafood exports, Europe accounts for 26 per cent, the US (17 per cent) and Japan (20 per cent).
During April-December 2010-11, the exports grew 24.70 per cent to $2 billion compared to $1.6 billion in the last fiscal. The MPEDA has set up a target of $2.5 billion of exports for the current fiscal.
"We expect the exports to exceed the set target of $2.5 billion as the seafood exports are witnessing a healthy growth," the official said.
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During 2009-10, exports were at $2 billion, up about 12 per cent as compared to the previous fiscal.
India's marine exports include black tiger shrimp, fresh water prawn shrimp, fresh sail fish, frozen versatile fish, frozen skip jack and frozen squid.