The Hindu Business Line : Seafood exports cross $1.5 b

Fish(in) complements
Frozen shrimp accounted for 59 per cent of the export value, followed by frozen fish 14 per cent and cuttlefish and squid 8 per cent each.
The EU with a share of 29 per cent was the top consumer; the US 23 per cent; Japan 16 per cent; China 12 per cent; South-East Asia eight per cent and the West Asia 4 per cent.

THE UNION Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, flanked by the Chairman of the Spices Board, Mr V.J. Kurien (left), and the Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority, Mr G. Mohankumar, at a press conference in Kochi on Thursday. — Vipin Chandran

Kochi , June 8

The country's seafood exports rose 11 per cent in dollar terms to $1.64 billion in 2005-06, helped by the increasing demand from the European Union, China and the West Asia.

This is the first time seafood exports from the country crossing the $1.5-billion-mark. Last year, the exports stood at 1.47 billion.

In rupee terms, the exports grew nine per cent year-on-year to Rs 7,245 crore, the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) said on Thursday.

Break-up

Also, after a long gap, seafood exports grew year-on-year consecutively for two years, MPEDA officials said at a press conference here.

Frozen shrimp accounted for the largest share of 59 per cent of the export value, followed by frozen fish (14 per cent), cuttlefish and squid (eight per cent each). All the major items recorded a growth this year.

The EU continued for the second year as the top consumer of Indian seafood with a share of 29 per cent.

The US, once the biggest market for India's marine products, came second with a 23 per cent share this year. Japan (16 per cent), China (12 per cent), South-East Asia (eight per cent) and the West Asia (four per cent) were the other key destinations.

Cold storages

While exports to the EU, China and the West Asia posted a healthy growth, the same to Japan and South-East Asia showed a decline. Exports to the US grew only marginally.

MPEDA said exports to the EU rose largely due to the stringent quality upgrades undertaken by the seafood exporting industry. As many as 157 processing units and 19 frozen cold storages have been approved for processing and exporting to the EU.

The Union Minister of State for Commerce, Mr Jairam Ramesh, who was present at the press meet, said MPEDA and the seafood industry should strive to expand the export basket with new and value added products in order to minimise the dependence on one item - frozen shrimp.

Also, the industry should focus its attention on Maharashtra, Orissa and Gujarat, which have large areas of uncultivable land, to promote aquaculture.

Asked about the issue of the US, demanding customs bonds for seafood exports into that country, the Minister said the Government would thrash out a solution to the issue while keeping in mind the suggestions put forth by the industry.

The industry has presented three options before the Government: Financial support to fight the customs bonds legally, bearing some costs of providing the bonds or prevailing upon the US to exclude Indian exports from the customs bonds.

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