Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp industry has demonstrated both scale and strategic resilience, reinforcing its position as the backbone of India’s seafood export economy amid global trade turbulence.
A sharp contraction in shipments to the United States between April and November 2025 tested the sector’s stability. Seafood exports to the U.S. declined by nearly 15% in volume as steep tariff barriers compressed margins and disrupted order flows.
The impact rippled through coastal farming belts and processing units, where export-linked price realisations directly determine pond-level incomes and working capital cycles, officials say.
Yet, the downturn did not translate into prolonged distress. Instead, exporters executed a swift market diversification strategy.
As a result, non-U.S. destinations accounted for nearly 57% of shrimp shipments, signalling a decisive structural shift in Andhra Pradesh’s export orientation. Increased volumes were absorbed by the European Union, China, Vietnam, Russia and the United Kingdom, stabilising procurement prices for farmers and ensuring processing plants continued operating at viable capacity levels, they say.
Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu says the State’s performance reflects the deep integration of aquaculture production, processing infrastructure and global market linkages.
Citing data from the Marine Products Export Development Authority and other official sources, he notes that Andhra Pradesh has consistently led India’s marine exports over the past five years.
In FY 2018-19, India exported 1.392 million MT of seafood worth US$ 6.72 billion. Andhra Pradesh contributed nearly 3.1 lakh MT, 36.16% of the national export volume, generating about US$ 2.43 billion.
The State’s dominance has been particularly pronounced in farmed shrimp, which commands premium pricing in global markets. Even during periods of global volatility, the State has retained its leadership.
In FY 2021-22, India exported 1.369 million MT of seafood, with Andhra Pradesh contributing 23.66% by quantity and 34.76% by value. Assessments placed its overall share as high as 38%, with shrimp forming nearly 70% of the State’s export basket, the Minister says.
The growth momentum strengthened in FY 2022-23, when India’s seafood exports climbed to 17,35,286 MT valued at ₹63,969.14 crore. Andhra Pradesh maintained roughly a 32% share. National frozen shrimp exports stood at 7,16,004 MT, with the State supplying the majority.
In FY 2023-24, exports rose further to 17,81,602 MT worth ₹60,523 crore (US$ 7.38 billion), and the State again accounted for around 32%.
Preliminary figures for FY 2024-25 showed India exporting 16,98,170 MT valued at ₹62,408.45 crore (US$ 7.45 billion). Andhra Pradesh topped the export value rankings among States, recording about US$ 2.53 billion in seafood exports.
“The sector’s footprint extends beyond trade metrics. Shrimp aquaculture supports an estimated 2.85 lakh farming families and nearly 3 million livelihoods when hatcheries, feed mills, processing units and logistics are included. Coastal districts such as Prakasam, West Godavari, East Godavari, Nellore and Krishna form the production backbone,” the Minister says..
Recent tariff relief in the U.S. market, reducing duties from earlier cumulative levels of 50–58% to about 18%, is expected to improve processor margins from roughly 5–5.5% to 7–8%. Combined with sustained diversification, this positions Andhra Pradesh’s aquaculture sector to consolidate its leadership while strengthening rural incomes and export resilience.
Published – March 08, 2026 09:19 pm IST
