Marine exports to US fall 23%

While the country's exports of marine products to most countries increased, exports to the US dropped 23.43 per cent in quantity and 14.32 per cent in value in the first half of this financial year compared with the H1 FY06 figures.

Exports to the US were badly hit by the imposition of anti-dumping duty by the US Department of Commerce and the customs bond.

Exports to other countries "� barring the US and south-east Asia "� saw an upturn in H1 FY07. The growth was seen in both quantum and rupee value "� of 24.69 per cent and 13.91 per cent respectively.

During April-September, India exported 22,329 tonne of seafood to US markets, down by 6,831 tonne from last year's 29,160 tonne. In rupee terms, value realisations dropped to Rs 768 crore from Rs 896.17 crore in the same period of 2005-06.

A J Tharakan, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), said the imposition of 10.17 per cent anti-dumping duty on frozen shrimp and the customs bond were the major reasons for the disappointing performance.

A section of exporters had already stopped exports to the US as they were incapable of adhering to the exorbitant bond for exporting to the US, he added.

Industry sources said the stringent measures taken by the US administration on imports caused 5.86 per cent drop in the exports of frozen shrimp from India in the period under review "� from 73,155 tonne to 68,869 tonne in April-September last year.

And, the poor performance of shrimp exports had hit the country's aquaculture industry as well, they added.

Exports to other countries "� barring the US and south-east Asia "� saw an uptrend in H1 FY07.

The European Union remained the top exports market with 64,660 tonne, valued at Rs 1,236 crore, a growth of 6.14 per cent in quantity and 28.72 per cent in value.

EU nations contributed 31 per cent of quantity and 33.36 per cent of realisations to the country's total exports.

The important factor in the export performance was the rise in value of exports to Japan, which grabbed the second spot at Rs 720 crore value of Indian exports. The quantity shipped to Japan was 33,661 tonne, a share 16 per cent, surpassing the US' 11 per cent.

The share of Japan in the export basket of marine products was 11.67 per cent in 2005-06. Exports to Japan grew 7.86 per cent in quantity and 15.41 per cent in value over last year. Japan had a negative growth of 3.87 per cent in value in FY06, despite 3.38 per cent rise in quantity.

At 40,407 tonne "� valued at Rs 302 crore, China too remained one of the largest buyers of Indian seafood items.

At 68,869 tonne valued at Rs 2,349.05 crore (63.40 per cent of the total export earnings), frozen shrimp with 33 per cent share of the country's entire export basket continued to be on the top.

With the shipping of 53,681 tonne valued at Rs 339.68 crore frozen fish maintained the second spot. Kochi had emerged the largest marine products exporting port by shipping 462,67 tonne or 21.98 per cent.