Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp industry has demonstrated both scale and strategic resilience, strengthening its position as the backbone of India’s seafood export economy amid global trade turbulence.
A sharp drop in shipments to the United States between April and November 2025 tested the stability of the sector. Seafood exports to the U.S. fell nearly 15% in volume as steep tariff barriers squeezed margins and disrupted order flows.
The impact has hit coastal agricultural belts and processing units, where export-related price realizations directly determine pond-level income and working capital cycles, officials say.
However, the decline did not translate into long-term distress. Instead, exporters implemented a strategy of rapid market diversification.
As a result, non-US destinations accounted for nearly 57% of shrimp shipments, signaling a decisive structural shift in Andhra Pradesh’s export orientation. The increased volumes have been absorbed by the European Union, China, Vietnam, Russia and the United Kingdom, stabilizing purchase prices for farmers and ensuring processing plants continue to operate 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 linkages with the global market.
Citing data from the Marine Export Development Authority and other official sources, he notes that Andhra Pradesh has consistently led India’s marine exports for the past five years.
In FY 2018-19, India exported 1.392 million MT of seafood worth USD 6.72 billion. Andhra Pradesh contributed nearly 3.1 lakh MT, 36.16% of the national export volume, generating about USD 2.43 billion.
The state’s dominance was particularly pronounced in farmed shrimp, which command premium prices on world markets. Even during a period of global instability, the state maintained its leading position.
In FY 2021-22, India exported 1.369 million MT of seafood, with Andhra Pradesh contributing 23.66% by volume and 34.76% by value. The assessment pegged its total share at up to 38%, with shrimp accounting for nearly 70% of the state’s export basket, the minister says.
The growth momentum picked up 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 32% share. Domestic exports of frozen shrimp stood at 7,16,004 MT with the state supplying the majority.
In FY 2023–24, exports further increased to 17,81,602 MT valued at ₹60,523 crore (US$7.38 billion), with the state again accounting for around 32%.
Preliminary figures for FY 2024-25 showed India exporting 16,98,170 MT worth ₹62,408.45 crore (US$7.45 billion). Andhra Pradesh topped the list of export value among states, recording $2.53 billion worth of seafood exports.
“The footprint of the sector goes beyond business 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 areas like Prakasam, West Godavari, East Godavari, Nellore and Krishna,” says the production backbone.e.
The recent tariff relief in the US market, which reduces tariffs from earlier cumulative levels of 50-58% to around 18%, is expected to improve processor margins from around 5-5.5% to 7-8%. Combined with continued diversification, this positions Andhra Pradesh’s aquaculture industry to consolidate its leadership while strengthening rural income and export resilience.
Published – 8 March 2026 21:19 IST
