Shrimp exporters in Andhra now lock on to Australia
In the 2023-24 fiscal year, Andhra Pradesh exported 327,000 metric tons of frozen shrimp and the state’s overall seafood exports (which are heavily dominated by shrimp) were worth INR 2 Kharab. or USD 2.3 billion. Andhra Pradesh is the largest shrimp producer in India, accounting for about 70-80% of the country’s total shrimp exports, and Nellore district is known as the “Shrimp Capital of India”.
Frozen shrimp makes up a large portion of these exports, with figures showing it accounted for 92% of India’s seafood exports to the US in a recent period. The USA is the largest export market for Andhra’s shrimp.
Andhra Pradesh, is now looking to Australia as an alternative market. Shri N Lokesh Naidu, the state’s IT and HRD Minister and the son of CM Chandrababu Naidu, went on a seven-day tour of Australia. He said the Australian government may ease restrictions on the import of prawns.
The Minister said that a long-standing hurdle for Indian seafood exporters has been Australia’s restrictions on unpeeled prawns due to white spot virus detection. Lokesh announced that after “extensive work done by the Indian and Australian governments”, the first import approval for Indian prawns has been granted.
“We should continue to open new markets to de-risk ourselves from too much dependence on one market,” Lokesh said.
Lokesh, who was visiting Australia on a learning and partnership tour under the Special Visitors Program, said that he is meeting with members of the Australian Seafood Association to help the state’s exporters find new markets amid US tariffs, apart from meeting university leaders, CEOs, and skills ministers to unlock opportunities for Andhra Pradesh’s youth.
The draft permit to import conditionally non-prohibited goods by Australia’s Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry is for two years from October 20, 2025.
He met with representatives of Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) and its CEO, Veronica Papacosta, in Parramatta near Sydney. Seafood Industry Australia, which was started in 2017, has more than 30,000 members from the wild catch, aquaculture and seafood processing sectors in Australia.
The Minister requested the SIA to undertake trade missions and networking programs to connect Andhra Pradesh marine product exporters with buyers in Australia. He also requested them to facilitate partnerships between Andhra Pradesh’s aqua industry players and Australian importers to expand the Indian marine product market.
During his meetings with the SIA, he said that the State has introduced advanced technologies in processing, cold chain management and packaging to increase the quality and shelf life of aqua products.
Other suggestions were to share expertise with AP aqua industry players for sustainable aquaculture and fisheries management to increase productivity while reducing environmental impact, and to promote Andhra Pradesh’s seafood cuisine and undertake joint initiatives to attract culinary tourism.
Andhra Pradesh accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s shrimp exports and 34 per cent of marine exports, valued at around Rs 21,246 crore annually. Over 30 lakh people are dependent on shrimp exports and allied activities in the state.
On September 15, the AP government stated that Trump’s tariffs are estimated to have cost the state approximately Rs 25,000 crore in shrimp exports, with government officials saying that about 50 per cent of the orders were cancelled.
