Andhra Pradesh has kept its crown as India’s biggest seafood-exporting state — but the latest numbers carry a warning. In the record year of 2025-26 the state shipped marine products worth ₹23,765.11 crore, nearly a third of everything India earned from seafood exports. Yet in the first seven months of the current financial year, April to October 2026, export volumes from the state have slipped 3.6%, even as rupee earnings rose on the back of a weaker rupee. The United States is buying more than ever, while Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia are buying far less. For a state whose aqua export earnings depend almost entirely on one product — frozen shrimp — the split picture matters to every farmer, hatchery owner and exporter in the coastal districts.
Andhra Pradesh’s aqua exports at a glance
| Figure | Value | Source / period |
|---|---|---|
| AP marine exports, FY 2025-26 | 4,09,274 tonnes worth ₹23,765.11 crore ($2,724.38 million) | MPEDA state-wise data, via The South First, 11 Nov 2026 |
| AP share of India’s marine exports | 20.7% of volume, 32.1% of foreign-exchange earnings | FY 2025-26 |
| India’s total marine exports, FY 2025-26 | 19,72,018 tonnes worth ₹73,890.46 crore ($8,455.76 million) | MPEDA via PIB, 1 June 2026 |
| AP exports, Apr–Oct 2026-27 | 2,38,166.39 tonnes, ₹15,096.01 crore ($1,603.17 million) | First seven months of FY 2026-27 |
| Volume change, Apr–Oct 2026-27 | Down 3.60% (2,47,058.09 tonnes a year earlier) | Year-on-year |
| Rupee value change, Apr–Oct 2026-27 | Up 5.74% (₹14,276.39 crore to ₹15,096.01 crore) | Year-on-year |
| Dollar revenue change, Apr–Oct 2026-27 | Down 3.70% ($1,664.76 million to $1,603.17 million) | Year-on-year |
A record year — then a wobble
The 2025-26 financial year was the best ever for Indian seafood exports. India shipped a record 19,72,018 metric tonnes of marine products worth ₹73,890.46 crore, or $8,455.76 million in foreign exchange. Compared with 2024-25 — 16.98 lakh tonnes worth $7,453.7 million — export volume rose about 16% and dollar revenue about 13%. These are the highest exports recorded in the 11 years from 2015-16 to 2025-26, surpassing the previous record of $8,094 million set in 2022-23. The figures come from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), reported by PIB on 1 June 2026.
Andhra Pradesh led the country by a wide margin. The state exported 4,09,274 metric tonnes in 2025-26 — 20.7% of India’s total export volume — and earned ₹23,765.11 crore, or $2,724.38 million, which is 32.1% of the country’s foreign-exchange earnings from marine products. Coastal states together accounted for 99% of India’s marine product exports by both volume and value.
The chasing pack shows how far ahead Andhra Pradesh sits. Maharashtra earned ₹9,057.83 crore from 2,81,147 tonnes, Kerala ₹8,466.77 crore from 1,94,224 tonnes, Tamil Nadu ₹7,660.48 crore from 1,52,144 tonnes and Gujarat ₹7,145.67 crore from 3,12,259 tonnes. Odisha recorded ₹5,431.95 crore, Karnataka ₹5,371.85 crore and West Bengal ₹5,240.90 crore, while Goa exported products worth ₹903.60 crore. In annual dollar export revenue growth, Maharashtra led with 18.1%, followed by Kerala at 16.8% and Gujarat at 15.8%; Andhra Pradesh grew 7.4% and Tamil Nadu 4.5%. But the unit value of exports fell 3.9% in Andhra Pradesh — a sign that the state is shipping more of the cheaper product mix, or getting less per kilo, than its rivals.
Seven months in: volume down, rupee value up
The April–October 2026 figures for Andhra Pradesh tell a more complicated story. In the first seven months of 2026-27, the state exported 2,38,166.39 tonnes of marine products valued at ₹15,096.01 crore, generating $1,603.17 million. In the same period last year, 2,47,058.09 tonnes were exported — a fall of 8,891.70 tonnes, or 3.60%.
Yet the value in rupees actually rose, from ₹14,276.39 crore to ₹15,096.01 crore, a growth of 5.74%. The reason is the falling rupee against the US dollar: the same dollars convert into more rupees. In dollar terms, revenue fell from $1,664.76 million to $1,603.17 million, a decline of 3.70%. The headline, in other words, depends on which currency you count in — and for farmers paid in rupees, the picture looks better than it does for exporters competing on dollar prices.
Shrimp is everything — and that is the risk
Frozen shrimp dominates Andhra Pradesh’s aqua exports to an extraordinary degree. In the first seven months of 2026-27, 2,25,552.52 tonnes of frozen shrimp were exported, against 2,24,262.37 tonnes in the same period last year — a marginal 0.58% growth in volume. Its value rose from ₹13,918.56 crore to ₹14,801.93 crore, a 6.35% increase in rupee terms, while dollar revenue slipped from $1,623.14 million to $1,571.90 million.
Frozen shrimp accounts for 94.70% of the state’s total aqua export volume and 98.05% of its revenue. That concentration is the single biggest structural fact about Andhra Pradesh’s seafood economy: almost everything rides on one product. Any change in shrimp prices, import policies or demand in international markets hits the state’s exports directly.
Nationally the pattern is the same. In 2025-26, frozen shrimp worth $5,624.5 million was exported from India, accounting for 66.5% of total export revenue. Frozen fish fetched $643.7 million, other marine products $630.6 million, dried items $577.4 million, frozen squid $513.8 million, cuttlefish $332 million, chilled products $71.3 million and live marine products $62.4 million.
One bright spot inside the state data is frozen fish. Alongside shrimp, frozen fish exports from Andhra Pradesh jumped from 1,159.84 tonnes in April–October last year to 2,791.13 tonnes this period — a 140.65% growth in volume — with value rising from ₹20.98 crore to ₹43.82 crore, a 108.84% increase. The base is small, but the direction is the diversification the state needs.
America buys more; Europe, the Gulf and Southeast Asia buy less
The United States remains the largest market for Andhra Pradesh’s aqua exports — and it is growing. Between April and October 2026, 1,13,962.31 tonnes of products were exported to the US, up from 1,00,785.75 tonnes in the same period last year, a 13.07% growth. Export revenue from the US rose from ₹7,265.58 crore to ₹8,650.60 crore, a 19.06% increase in rupees and an 8.30% increase in dollar revenue, reaching $918.93 million. The US now accounts for about 57.3% of the state’s total aqua export revenue and 47.8% of its volume.
That dependence cuts both ways. Last year, widespread concern was expressed over aqua exports because of trade restrictions imposed by US President Donald Trump. Trade measures such as Section 301 tariff actions, anti-dumping duties and countervailing duties continue to pose challenges to Indian marine product exporters, and the US has also banned imports of wild-caught shrimp over turtle excluder device (TED) requirements for sea-turtle protection. The ban mainly affects marine-caught shrimp; farm-raised shrimp from aquaculture ponds are Andhra Pradesh’s main export, so the state’s trade has kept growing despite the restrictions.
| Market (Apr–Oct 2026-27) | Volume | Change vs last year |
|---|---|---|
| United States | 1,13,962.31 tonnes | Up 13.07% in volume; revenue up 19.06% in rupees to ₹8,650.60 crore |
| European Union | 14,948.46 tonnes | Down 30.21% in volume; value down 24.74% to ₹1,000.28 crore |
| Southeast Asia | 15,698.70 tonnes | Down 17.91% in volume; value down 23.49% to ₹631.64 crore |
| Middle East | 7,616.99 tonnes | Down 64.26% in volume; value down 38.54% to ₹320.79 crore |
| China | 51,753.74 tonnes | Up 0.25% in volume; value up to ₹2,428 crore |
| Japan | 7,603.26 tonnes | Up 1.29% in volume; rupee value up 6.38% |
Exports to the European Union dropped from 21,418.04 tonnes last year to 14,948.46 tonnes this period — a 30.21% fall in volume — and their value fell from ₹1,329.12 crore to ₹1,000.28 crore. Exports to Southeast Asian countries fell from 19,123.17 tonnes to 15,698.70 tonnes, a 17.91% drop in volume and a 23.49% decline in revenue. The steepest fall was in the Middle East, where exports plunged from 21,310.32 tonnes to 7,616.99 tonnes — a 64.26% volume decline — while value dropped from ₹521.95 crore to ₹320.79 crore. Exports to China stood at 51,753.74 tonnes, a marginal 0.25% volume growth, with value rising from ₹2,371.74 crore to ₹2,428 crore. Japan took 7,603.26 tonnes, up 1.29% in volume with a 6.38% rise in rupee value, and exports to other countries rose from 25,287.45 tonnes to 26,582.92 tonnes.
Nationwide in 2025-26, marine products worth $2,328.7 million went to the US, $1,611.3 million to China, $1,592.1 million to the European Union, $1,349 million to Southeast Asian countries, $452.9 million to Japan, $283 million to Middle Eastern countries and $838.7 million to other markets.
The Supreme Court case behind the numbers
The export figures surfaced publicly because of a court fight. Last week, the Supreme Court refused to grant an interim stay on the Andhra Pradesh government’s decision to hike the agricultural market fee on shrimp exports from the state. In April 2022 the state government raised the market fee on aqua exports from 0.25% to 1%. Fifteen aqua export companies, including Akshay Food Impex and Wellcome Fisheries, first approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court, which upheld the government decision. The companies then filed special leave petitions in the Supreme Court, heard by a two-judge bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manmohan. The refusal to stay the hike means the 1% fee stands while the case continues.
The stakes are large: exporters reportedly earn ₹12,000 crore to ₹15,000 crore annually through processed shrimp exports, and government sources cited in the report say these firms are unwilling to pay even 1% of this revenue to the government and are approaching the courts instead. The figure is reported, not official, and the final outcome of the case is still pending.
Quality tests are the other pressure point
Beyond tariffs, quality compliance is squeezing exporters. In international markets, marine product quality and the control of antibiotic residues have become critical issues. The European Union tests up to 50% of imported consignments, and Japan conducts 100% testing on Whiteleg (vannamei) shrimp imports. Instances of Indian products facing rejection in the US are increasing, according to the report. Pathogens and biosecurity issues in shrimp farming are also affecting exports, and regulations in Australia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, China and Thailand add further hurdles — along with export unit approvals in Russia, Saudi Arabia and Vietnam and the registration of new species and products in China.
What this means for fish farmers and exporters
- Farmers: the rupee value of exports is still rising, which supports farm-gate shrimp prices — but the 3.6% volume fall and the 3.9% drop in unit value last year are early warnings. Diversifying into frozen fish, value-added products and other species reduces the risk of riding a single product.
- Exporters: the US now takes nearly half the state’s export volume. That concentration paid off this year, but tariffs, anti-dumping and countervailing duties remain live risks. Rebuilding the EU, Middle East and Southeast Asian markets matters more than ever.
- Quality is now a market-access issue: antibiotic residue control, biosecurity on farms and traceability are no longer paperwork — they decide whether a consignment clears testing in the EU and Japan or gets rejected in the US.
- The 1% market fee: with the Supreme Court refusing a stay, exporters should plan on the fee applying while the case runs its course.
What to watch next
Three things will decide whether Andhra Pradesh’s export story stays strong. First, whether the volume decline in April–October reverses in the second half of the year, when the peak shrimp harvest season feeds exports. Second, whether the US market keeps growing despite tariff actions — and whether the EU and Middle East declines stabilise. Third, how the Supreme Court case on the 1% market fee ends, since it sets the cost structure for every exporter in the state. For now, Andhra Pradesh remains India’s undisputed aqua export leader — but the crown is getting heavier to hold.
Frequently asked questions
Which state exports the most marine products from India?
Andhra Pradesh. In FY 2025-26 it exported 4,09,274 tonnes worth ₹23,765.11 crore — 20.7% of India’s export volume and 32.1% of its foreign-exchange earnings from marine products.
How much did India export in FY 2025-26?
A record 19,72,018 metric tonnes worth ₹73,890.46 crore ($8,455.76 million), the highest in the 11 years from 2015-16 to 2025-26, according to MPEDA via PIB.
Are Andhra Pradesh’s aqua exports falling?
In volume, yes, for now: April–October 2026-27 volumes fell 3.6% year-on-year. But rupee earnings rose 5.74% because of the weaker rupee, while dollar revenue fell 3.70%.
Why is shrimp so important to Andhra Pradesh?
Frozen shrimp is 94.70% of the state’s aqua export volume and 98.05% of its revenue — so almost the entire export economy depends on one product and a handful of markets.
Which market buys the most Andhra Pradesh seafood?
The United States, taking about 57.3% of the state’s export revenue and 47.8% of its volume in April–October 2026, with exports up 13.07% in volume year-on-year.
Related reading
- Fish Output Up 39.6% — NFDB’s New Plan for Fish Farmers
- Andhra Pradesh Grows 28% of India’s Fish!
- India’s Shrimp Farms Hit Record 13.05 Lakh Tonnes
- Lakshadweep to Double Tuna: 50,000 Tonnes in 5 Years
Sources: The South First, “Andhra Pradesh tops India’s aqua exports; new challenges emerge despite rising revenue”, published Wednesday 11 November 2026 (MPEDA state-wise export data); MPEDA via PIB, 1 June 2026 (FY 2025-26 national export totals). All figures checked against these sources on 13 November 2026. The ₹12,000–15,000 crore annual exporter-earnings figure is reported, not official. Images in this post are illustrations.