Seafood exports during the first three months of current fiscal fell marginally from the corresponding period of last fiscal due to a decline in catch. Provisional figures provided by the Marine Products Exports Development Authority (MPEDA) reveal exports declined by 5%, while value is lower by only 0.2% from the performance of Q1 of 2008-09. Dollar revenue shows a decline of 17% over the previous period.
Exports during April-June 2009-10 stands at 105,812 tonne valued at Rs 1644.48 crore ($ 335.83 million) as against 111,368 tonne valued at Rs 1649.39 crore ($ 405.41 million). MPEDA sources told FE that actual and final value of exports during the period may match or surpass the performance of the last period as provisional data does not include shipments from the Veravel port.
Interestingly, shrimp exports have gone up during the period as against trend visible in last fiscal.
Shrimp exports were seen decreasing in volume and value terms during last fiscal due to the global crisis and competition from cheaper white shrimps. Exports of frozen shrimps dipped by 7.5% in volume and 4% in value, while the unit realisation of a kilogram of shrimp exported dropped by 7.5% during 2008-09.
Export of squid and ribbon fish have fallen marginally during April-June 2009 due to trawling ban, sources said.
India exported 602,000 tonne of seafood products valued at Rs 8607.94 crore during 2008-09, showing an increase of 11.29 % in volume and 12.95 % in rupee earnings.
During the previous fiscal (2007-08), 541,000 lakh tonne of marine products valued at Rs 7620.92 crore were exported. The exports in US dollar terms stood at $ 1908.63 million, a growth of 0.50 % compared to the previous year?s $ 1899.09 million.