Marine exports jump about 22 pc in July

NEW DELHI: Seafood exports grew by about 22 per cent to $ 170 million (Rs 790.55 crore) in July compared to the same month last fiscal, thanks to increasing demand from markets like Japan and the US.

"There has been an increase in demand for black tiger shrimp from Japan. Besides, orders are growing from the US market," an official of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) said.

Seafood exports in July 2009 were at $ 139 million. Of the country's total seafood exports, Europe accounted for 26 per cent, followed by Japan (20 per cent) and the US (17 per cent) in 2009-10.

During the first four months of 2010-11 fiscal, marine exports stood at $ 638 million compared to $ 517.40 million in the same period last fiscal.

The MPEDA has set up a target of $ 2.5 bn of exports for the current fiscal.

Exports were at $ 2 bn during 2009-10, up about 12 per cent compared to the previous fiscal.

India's marine exports include black tiger shrimp, fresh water prawn shrimp, fresh sail fish, frozen versatile fish, frozen skip jack and frozen squid.