India’s shrimp ponds have just delivered their biggest harvest ever. New data published by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) shows production of Pacific whiteleg shrimp — Litopenaeus vannamei, the species that powers almost all of India’s farmed-shrimp output — reached 1,304,779 metric tonnes in 2025-26, an all-time high and the first time the figure has crossed 13 lakh tonnes. It is the fifth straight year of data in MPEDA’s state-wise aquaculture production snapshot, and the trend is unmistakable: after a wobble in 2023-24, vannamei has now grown for two consecutive years, by 10.15% and then 9.99%.
For a sector that earns most of India’s seafood export income, that matters far beyond the pond bund. Frozen shrimp alone was worth ₹49,037.93 crore in 2025-26 — two-thirds of everything India earned from seafood exports. This post breaks down MPEDA’s full five-year picture: vannamei’s record run, the black tiger shrimp revival, the worrying slide in scampi, and the sharp fall in seabass.
Vannamei: the five-year record run
| Year | Vannamei production (MT) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 9,76,213 | — |
| 2022-23 | 10,97,481 | +12.42% |
| 2023-24 | 10,76,970 | −1.87% |
| 2024-25 | 11,86,266 | +10.15% |
| 2025-26 | 13,04,779 | +9.99% — all-time high |
Over the five years, vannamei production has grown 33.66%, an average of about 7.5% a year, according to MPEDA’s analysis. The only down year was 2023-24, when output slipped 1.87% to 10,76,970 MT. The rebound since then has been strong: 2024-25 added more than 1.09 lakh tonnes in a single year, and 2025-26 added another 1.18 lakh tonnes.
Vannamei’s dominance is the story of Indian aquaculture in one number. Add the black tiger shrimp harvest and total farmed shrimp in 2025-26 was 13,73,851 MT — and vannamei alone accounted for about 95% of it. The species, introduced to India on a pilot basis in 2003 and approved for commercial culture in 2009, now underpins the entire shrimp export economy.
Black tiger shrimp: the comeback species
| Year | Black tiger shrimp (MT) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 40,504 | — |
| 2022-23 | 63,041 | +55.6% |
| 2023-24 | 85,752 | +36.0% |
| 2024-25 | 67,039 | −21.8% |
| 2025-26 | 69,072 | +3.0% |
Black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) — the native species vannamei displaced — has grown 70.5% over five years, from 40,504 MT to 69,072 MT. The path was volatile: a 55.6% jump in 2022-23, a peak of 85,752 MT in 2023-24, then a sharp 21.8% fall in 2024-25 that MPEDA links to possible market-demand challenges. The small 3% recovery in 2025-26 suggests the species has stabilised rather than resumed its climb.
For farmers, monodon matters because it is a premium product. It fetches higher prices than vannamei in several markets, and growing interest in it reflects a deliberate diversification push — farmers hedging against vannamei price swings and disease risk by keeping a second species in the pond portfolio.
Scampi: the quiet decline
| Year | Scampi (MT) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-22 | 21,317 | — |
| 2022-23 | 22,861 | +7.2% |
| 2023-24 | 24,769 | +8.3% |
| 2024-25 | 21,031 | −15.1% |
| 2025-26 | 18,960 | −9.8% |
Indian river prawn or scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) is the one clear loser in MPEDA’s snapshot. After peaking at 24,769 MT in 2023-24, production has fallen two years running and now stands at 18,960 MT — a net decline of 11.1% over five years. MPEDA points to long culture duration, competition from marine shrimp farming, seed availability constraints and changing market dynamics as possible causes.
The scampi slide matters because the species is a freshwater prawn, farmed mostly in inland ponds in Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal and Odisha. Its decline is a reminder that not every aquaculture segment is booming — and that inland farmers need the same attention as the coastal shrimp belt.
Diversified species: seabass halves in a year
| Species | 2021-22 (MT) | 2025-26 (MT) | Five-year trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seabass | 4,753 | 7,614 | Peaked at 19,030 MT in 2022-23; fell 53.9% in 2025-26 alone |
| GIFT tilapia | 10,442 | 3,401 | Fell every year after 12,682 MT in 2022-23 |
| Mud crab | 3,219 | 2,591 | Peaked at 6,197 MT in 2023-24, then eased |
The export-oriented finfish and crab segment tells a more mixed story. Seabass was the standout diversified species, jumping from 4,753 MT in 2021-22 to a peak of 19,030 MT in 2022-23. But it has fallen every year since, and the 2025-26 drop is steep: from 16,519 MT to 7,614 MT, a fall of 53.9% in a single year.
Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia (GIFT) has declined even more steadily, from 12,682 MT in 2022-23 to just 3,401 MT in 2025-26. Mud crab held up better, easing from a 6,197 MT peak in 2023-24 to 2,591 MT. MPEDA’s own assessment is candid: diversified species have gained prominence as alternatives, but production has fluctuated and needs sustained technological support, quality seed supply and market development.
Why the record matters: exports
Production figures only matter if the harvest sells. On that front, 2025-26 was also a record year. According to the official MPEDA release of 1 June 2026, India exported 19,72,018 MT of seafood worth ₹73,890.46 crore (US$ 8.46 billion) in 2025-26 — the highest ever. Frozen shrimp contributed ₹49,037.93 crore, or 66.52% of the dollar earnings, on 7,92,647 MT.
Read the two datasets together and the picture is clear: India farmed about 13.74 lakh tonnes of shrimp and exported 7.93 lakh tonnes of frozen shrimp in the same year. The gap is not a surplus sitting in cold storage — frozen shrimp exports also include wild-caught shrimp, while a large share of farmed shrimp is sold in the domestic market, processed into value-added products, or held as inventory across the year. What the numbers do show is that production growth and export growth moved together in 2025-26, which is exactly what the sector needs.
The export story also explains why vannamei keeps winning. It is the species global buyers want, in the sizes they want, at the volumes they want. Andhra Pradesh grows the bulk of it — more than half of India’s farmed shrimp comes from the state — which is why the state’s aquaculture policy, power tariffs and disease-management infrastructure matter nationally, not just locally.
What this means for shrimp farmers
A record production year is good news, but it is not a guarantee. Here is how farmers and new entrants should read MPEDA’s data:
- Vannamei is still the safest bet — but watch prices. Two years of near-10% growth means more ponds, more seed and more harvest hitting the market at the same time. When supply grows faster than demand, farm-gate prices soften. Track MPEDA’s export prices and your local auction rates before stocking, not after.
- Disease discipline decides who profits. White spot syndrome and EHP (Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei) remain the biggest threats to a crop. The production dip of 2023-24 is a reminder that a single bad season can wipe out a year’s growth. Follow Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) guidelines on pond preparation, seed testing and biosecurity.
- Diversify with intent, not fashion. Monodon’s recovery and seabass’s collapse show both sides of diversification. A second species hedges risk only if it has a real buyer — check market demand and seed availability before switching a pond.
- Scampi farmers need a plan. Two years of double-digit decline suggest structural problems, not a bad season. If you farm scampi, talk to your state fisheries department and MPEDA’s regional centre about seed supply and market linkages before the next cycle.
- Get registered and formal. Coastal aquaculture farms must be registered with the CAA, and formalisation through the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) opens access to credit, insurance and government schemes. Unregistered farms cannot access most support.
How to start or expand shrimp farming
- Check eligibility and site: coastal aquaculture needs CAA registration; freshwater scampi and fish farming follow state fisheries department rules. Brackish-water land with reliable water exchange is essential for vannamei and monodon.
- Register: apply for CAA registration for coastal ponds, and register on the National Fisheries Digital Platform (NFDP) for scheme access, credit and insurance linkages.
- Get quality seed: buy seed only from CAA-approved hatcheries and insist on SPF (specific pathogen free) stock for vannamei. Test seed for WSSV and EHP before stocking.
- Plan the crop: follow MPEDA and ICAR-CIBA best management practices on stocking density, feed management, water quality and biosecurity. One crop cycle of vannamei typically runs 100-120 days.
- Line up the buyer: talk to MPEDA-registered exporters or local processors before harvest. Frozen shrimp exporters buy in bulk; knowing your buyer avoids distress sales.
- Use the schemes: PMMSY supports pond construction, inputs, insurance and infrastructure. Check the NFDP portal or your district fisheries office for the current window — subsidy rates and deadlines change, so confirm before applying.
Frequently asked questions
How much vannamei shrimp did India produce in 2025-26?
1,304,779 metric tonnes (13.05 lakh tonnes), an all-time high, up 9.99% from 1,186,266 MT in 2024-25, according to MPEDA.
What is India’s total farmed shrimp production?
Vannamei (13,04,779 MT) plus black tiger shrimp (69,072 MT) gives 13,73,851 MT — about 13.74 lakh tonnes — in 2025-26. Vannamei accounts for roughly 95% of farmed shrimp.
Why did scampi production fall?
MPEDA cites long culture duration, competition from marine shrimp farming, seed availability constraints and changing market dynamics. Production fell 15.1% in 2024-25 and 9.8% in 2025-26.
How much seafood did India export in 2025-26?
19,72,018 MT worth ₹73,890.46 crore (US$ 8.46 billion), a record. Frozen shrimp was the largest item at ₹49,037.93 crore.
Which state produces the most farmed shrimp?
Andhra Pradesh, which accounts for more than half of India’s farmed shrimp production.
Where can I verify these figures?
MPEDA’s “State-wise Aquaculture Production” page (mpeda.gov.in) carries the five-year series for vannamei, monodon, scampi and export-oriented fishes. Export figures are from MPEDA’s official release of 1 June 2026, carried by PIB.
The bottom line
MPEDA’s five-year snapshot shows an aquaculture sector that is growing, concentrating and sorting itself out at the same time. Vannamei’s record 13.05 lakh tonnes confirms India’s position as the world’s leading shrimp farmer and exporter. Black tiger shrimp is finding its feet again. But scampi’s slide and seabass’s sharp fall are warnings that growth is not automatic — it depends on seed, disease control, markets and policy holding together at the same time.
For farmers, the message is simple: the opportunity is real, the record is genuine, and the risks are unchanged. Stock quality seed, follow biosecurity, know your buyer before harvest, and keep one eye on the export market — because that is where most of this record harvest ends up.
Note: production figures in this article are from MPEDA’s official “State-wise Aquaculture Production” page, accessed 7 November 2026. All images in this post are illustrations created for this article.
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