India’s seafood industry is poised for significant growth following the signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the United Kingdom on July 24. The landmark agreement, formalized in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, was signed by India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Secretary of State for Business and Trade Jonathan Reynolds. CETA is expected to boost India’s seafood exports to the UK by an estimated 70%, driven by the elimination of tariffs on a wide range of marine products.
The agreement grants zero-duty access on 99% of tariff lines, significantly enhancing the competitiveness of Indian seafood in the UK market. Key exports such as Vannamei shrimp, frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimp will benefit from duty-free access, previously subject to tariffs ranging from 0% to 21.5%. Products covered include fish, crustaceans, molluscs, fish oils, marine fats, prepared or preserved seafood, fish meal, and fishing gear. However, items like sausages under HS Code 1601 remain excluded from preferential treatment.
In 2024–25, India’s seafood exports reached $7.38 billion (₹60,523 crore), with frozen shrimp accounting for $4.88 billion or 66% of earnings. The UK, a major destination, imported $104 million worth of Indian seafood, including $80 million in frozen shrimp. Despite this, India holds only a 2.25% share of the UK’s $5.4 billion seafood import market. With CETA’s tariff eliminations, Indian exporters are well-positioned to capture a larger market share, competing on equal footing with countries like Vietnam and Singapore, which benefit from existing UK free trade agreements.
The fisheries sector, supporting 28 million livelihoods and contributing 8% to global fish production, has seen robust growth. Between 2014–15 and 2024–25, India’s seafood exports grew by 60% in volume to 16.85 lakh metric tonnes and 88% in value to ₹62,408 crore. Export destinations expanded from 100 to 130 countries, with value-added products tripling to ₹7,666.38 crore. Coastal states like Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat are expected to lead the charge in leveraging CETA, provided they meet the UK’s stringent sanitary and phytosanitary standards.