Marine Products Export Development Authority chairman Jose Syriac told The Financial Express that during the period April-December 2000, India exported 3,16,320 million tonne (mt) of marine products valued at $1,111 million. In rupee terms this was Rs 5016 crore. This showed an increase of 32.75 per cent in quantity terms, 34.26 in rupee terms and 27.74 in dollar terms compared to the corresponding period last year. Then the export was 2,38,276 MTs, valued at $ 870 million or Rs 3,736 crore.

The present trend indicates that exports should cross $ 1,300 million in 2000-01, which will be an all-time record.Frozen shrimp retained its top slot in the export basket with a share of 72 per cent. Frozen fin fish took the second place accounting for 12 per cent and cuttle fish and squid at 5 per cent each. There was a remarkable increase in export compared to last year in the case of frozen fin fish which recorded a 54 per cent jump while that of frozen shrimp was 26 per cent.

Export of value-added items like surimi, made from trash fish, continued to be on the high going up from Rs 41 crore to Rs 91 crore, a 110 per cent jump. Through this India has come to be acknowledged as a major Surimi producer.

The unit value realisation of shrimp went up from $ 7.98 to $ 9.24 per kg, an increase of 16 per cent. India's capability to control white spot disease was evident through the 9 per cent growth in frozen shrimp exports. It rose to 86,468 MTs from 79,235 MTs. Among the recipients of Indian marine products, Japan kept its dominant position, accounting for 43 per cent in value terms and the US followed with 19 per cent.

The European Union accounted for 14 per cent and China had a 12 per cent share. Together, the four countries accounted for 88 per cent of the exports. However, there was remarkable increase in the exports to the US. In the three quarters of this fiscal, exports to US were to the level of $ 206 million from $ 124 million, rise of 66 per cent during the same period last year. A similar trend was also seen in the case of China where exports went up 41 per cent from $ 92 million to $ 130 million.

As far as Kochi was concerned, the three quarters saw its position drop from first to third. Though the decline started after less than a decade ago, one major contributor to the fall was the week-long strike by seafood exporters in Kerala against the one per cent cess on exports under the Fishermen's Welfare Fund. There was a drop by 2 per cent during the period, the only port to show this trend. Chennai accounted for 28.3 per cent by value of the total exports, followed by Vizag at 16.4 per cent.