India's marine exports grow 20% in Dec

India's export of seafood items jumped 20 per cent to $261 million in December, 2010 year-on-year on the rising demand from the US and Japan.

The marine exports stood at $217 million in December, 2009, according to Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) data.

"There is a good demand for marine products like shrimp and fish from the US and Japan markets," an MPEDA official said.

Of the country's total seafood exports, Europe accounts for 26%, the US (17%) and Japan (20%).

During April-December 2010-11, the exports grew 24.70% to $2 billion compared to $1.6 billion in the last fiscal.

The MPEDA has set up a target of $2.5 billion of exports for the current fiscal.

"We expect the exports to exceed the set target of $2.5 billion as the seafood exports are witnessing a healthy growth," the official said.

During 2009-10, exports were at $2 billion, up about 12% as compared to the previous fiscal.

India's marine exports include black tiger shrimp, fresh water prawn shrimp, fresh sail fish, frozen versatile fish, frozen skip jack and frozen squid.