Fuelled by a drastic 30 per cent fall in the offtake of marine products by Japan, the country's marine product exports registered a decline of 9 per cent from Rs 6,444 crore in 2000-01 to Rs 5,870 crore in 2001-02. In dollar terms, exports of marine products in 2001-02 stood at $1,235 million against $1,416 million in 2000-01, registering a fall of 12.8 per cent.
The decline in the exports can be attributed to global recession and the resultant price fall in major markets.
According to an analysis carried out by the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham), the value of exports to Japan, the largest buyer of Indian marine products, which stood at Rs 2,272 crore (66,990 tonnes) in 1999-2000 rose to Rs 2,560 crore (68,983 tonnes) in 2000-01, but dropped sharply to Rs 1,815 crore (64,620 tonnes) in 2001-02.
Japan imported 64,620 tonnes of Indian seafood, out of the total exports of 13,9215 tonnes, imported by Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, the US and Canada, Assocham said.
Japan accounts for over 15 per cent of the total exports of marine products from India, which stood at 41,8070 tonnes in 2001-02.
The analysis shows that among the top five importing countries, barring Japan, which recorded a fall in offtake by 4,363 tonnes in 2001-02 compared to the previous year, all other countries recorded a sizeable jump in imports from India.
While exports to South Korea went up by 7,289 tonnes, exports to Taiwan increased by 1,773 tonnes, the US by 6,455 tonnes and Canada by 700 tonnes, it said.
The total quantity and value of marine products exports rose from 3,43,031 tonnes (Rs 5,116.67 crore) in 1999-2000 to 4,40,473 tonnes (Rs 6,443.89 crore) in 2000-01 but dipped to 4,18,070 tonnes (Rs 5,870.23 crore) in 2001-02.
In value terms, exports of frozen shrimps rose from Rs 3,645 crore in 1999-2000 to Rs 4,481 crore in 2000-01 but declined to Rs 4,073 crore in 2001-02. During these years, exports of frozen fish was Rs 537 crore, Rs 874 crore and Rs 705 crore, respectively.
