Seafood Exports To Us, Eu, Asia Up

Indian seafood exports to the US, European Union and South East Asia registered a rise in quantity and value during the first 11 months of the financial year 2001-2002, according to Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) here.

However, there was a fall in intake from Japan, one of the major markets for Indian seafoods.

In the overall seafood exports, there was a fall of 1.82 per cent in quantity, 8.84 per cent in value terms for the period April-February 2001-2002 against the corresponding period of last year, MPEDA said in its latest newsletter.

India exported 37,5137 tonnes of seafood valued at Rs 5,354.94 crore during April-February 2001-2002 compared to 38,2101 tonnes at Rs 5,874.30 crore during the same period of the previous year.

Despite a dip in Japanese imports, in value terms Japan continued to be India's major buyer at 32.3 per cent, followed by the US at 24 per cent and European Union (EU) at 17.94 per cent, respectively.

In quantity terms, China tops the list with 31.62 per cent followed by EU with 18.59 per cent and Japan 15.92 per cent of the total quantity of seafood exports.

In value terms, the Chennai Port maintained its first position contributing 26.68 per cent of the total seafood exports from India followed by Kochi at 14.76 per cent and Vishakapatnam at 13.55 per cent.

In quantity, JNPT, Mumbai, took the first position by exporting 20.49 per cent followed by Pipavava 18.20 per cent and Kochi 16.65 per cent. Seafood was exported from 15 ports in the country, the MPEDA said.

In value terms, the seafood export was to the tune of 70.23 per cent followed by fin fish 11.83 per cent, squid with 5.22 per cent and cuttlefish with 4.74 per cent.

In quantity, fin fish contribution was to the tune of 41.46 per cent followed by frozen shrimp 30.39 per cent, squid with 8.99 per cent and cuttle fish 7.41 per cent.