Seafood exports thro Chennai Port remain high in value terms

Kochi: Chennai Port continues to lead in seafood exports during the first eight months of the current fiscal. The port remained on top by contributing 21.92 per cent in value followed by Kochi 18.69 per cent and Vizag 16.12 per cent. However, in quantity terms, JNPT topped with 25.61 per cent followed by Kochi 23.95 per cent.


As per the figures available with MPEDA, the seafood exports in the first eight months had been to the tune of 2,87,984 tonnes valued at Rs 4,536.08 crore.


Frozen shrimp was the major item in the export basket both in value and quantity by contributing 64.12 per cent and 33.66 per cent respectively. In value, frozen fish was the second highest item with 10.87 per cent followed by cuttlefish with 7.79 per cent and squid 6.72 per cent.


In quantity, frozen fish was second with 30.99 per cent followed by cuttlefish 10.56 per cent and squid 9.32 per cent.


The European Union retained its first position as the major seafood buying country from India by taking 28.44 per cent followed by the US with 25.49 per cent and Japan 17.79 per cent. While the US and the EU have increased their intake, Japanese seafood import from India showed a declining trend.


Similarly, India's exports to China and South East Asia also showed a downtrend whereas exports to West Asia showed a positive trend. The drop in exports was mainly due to the poor fish landing reported in all the coastal areas in the country especially after the tsunami. -