India’s exports of marine products including shrimp, tuna, fishmeal and feed will get duty-free access to the UK, following the signing of India–UK trade agreement on Thursday.
Export to rise
“We anticipate exports to increase by 70% in the next few years from the current level, while there is huge scope of expanding the shipment,” KN Raghavan, secretary general, Seafood exporters association of India (SEAI) told FE.
The UK earlier imposed duties in the range of 4.2%- 8.5% on shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds.
Industry sources said despite a robust market potential, India’s current share in the UK’s $ 5.4 billion marine products market is only 2.25%.
Following the pact with the UK, Indian exporters will now enjoy the same market access as Germany or Netherlands, ensuring level the playing field, officials said.
According to the SEAI marine products exports to the UK were $ 104 million in 2024-25, which is likely to rise sharply with the abolition of duties. Out of these frozen shrimp had a share of 77% at $ 80 million last fiscal.
Marine Sector
Following the pact, India’s fisheries sector, especially in Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu, may see expansion through access to the UK’s marine products market.
The provision of sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures in the pact would help Indian seafood exporters to meet UK standards with ease while reducing rejections of shipments.
Officials said the pact would allow India to match leading global agri-products exporters in several high-potential product categories.
India’s marine products exports for 2024-25 was valued at $7.38 billion. Seafood is one of India’s largest agricultural exports after basmati rice and buffalo meat.
Bulk of the country’s seafood exports to the US is ‘Vannamei Shrimp’, and in FY25, over 41% of India’s shrimp exports went to America, which was by far its largest market.