The earnings from export of marine products crossed the landmark figure of US $ 2.5 billion in 2010-11, the highest ever, accroding to provisional estimates of Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA).
The export of marine products during April - March 2010-11 touched US $ 2.67 billion, a growth of 10.96 per cent in quantity, 20.42 per cent in rupee value and 25.55 per cent in US$ terms, compared to last year.
A total of 752,791 tonnes, valued at Rs 12,100.48 crore, were shipped last financial year as against 678,436 tonnes, worth Rs 10,048.53 crore, in 2009-10. The exports worth US $ 2.13 billion in 2009-10, the provisional figures show.
It may be noted that the achievement came in spite of the after effects of recession in the international market, Rupee becoming stronger vis-à-vis the Euro and the Dollar, the impact of the collapse of economies in Greece, Spain and Portugal in the EU region causing the depreciation of Euro against US $. EU is the largest market for Indian seafood items for the last five years.
Considerable increase was made in the export of frozen shrimp and frozen squid during the period. Large-scale production of Vannamei shrimp in addition to high productivity of black tiger shrimp and increased landing of squid might be attributed for the increase.
Major Export items
According to the provisional figures, frozen shrimp continued to be a major export item accounting 46 per cent of the total US dollar earnings. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 13 per cent, 35 per cent and 41 per cent in quantity, rupee value and US$ value, respectively. There is a considerable increase in unit value realisation of 24 per cent. Export of shrimp to USA has registered a tremendous growth of about 83 per cent in volume and 140 per cent in US$ terms.
Shrimp export to Japan also showed an increase of 17 per cent and 43 per cent in volume and US$ value respectively. India has also exported 10,000 tonnes of Vannamei shrimp during the period.
Fish, the principal export item in quantity terms and the second largest export item in value terms, accounted for 39 per cent in quantity and 20 per cent in US$ earnings, compared to last year's 12 per cent in quantity and 26 per cent in US$ realisation.
Frozen squid has a growth of about 49 per cent and 74 per cent in quantity and in US$ terms respectively. Cuttlefish showed a decline of about 12 per cent in quantity but showed an increase of 16 per cent in US$ realization. There is a considerable increase of 32 per cent in the unit value realization of these items.
Dried items showed growth of 39 per cent in quantity but declined 11 per cent in US$ value. Export of value-added products also showed a growth of about 2 per cent in quantity and 12 per cent in US$ realization.
Major markets
The European Union (EU) continued to be the largest market with a share of 26 per cent in US $ realisation. However, there is a marginal decline of 1 per cent in quantity exported. USA regained the second place with a share of 16 per cent, followed by South East Asia with a share of around 16 per cent, China at 15 per cent, Japan 14 per cent, Middle East 5 per cent and other countries at 8 per cent.
Exports to USA registered a remarkable growth of 104 per cent in US$ realization and 47 per cent in terms of quantity during the year. Increase in export of shrimp and squid contributed to the growth.
Exports to Japan also registered a growth of 11 per cent in quantity and 36 per cent in US$ terms. Export of all items except chilled item showed an increasing trend in Japanese market.
