The European Union emerged as the third-largest market for Indian seafood in fiscal year 2025-26, accounting for 18.94% of India’s total seafood export value, or USD 1.593 billion, the Commerce Ministry said. Exports to the EU surged year-on-year, with value up 41.45% and quantity up 38.29%, led largely by farmed shrimp.
The boost follows the European Commission’s revised draft list, published on May 12, which proposes India’s continued authorization to export aquaculture products to the EU. The revision addresses concerns raised after Implementing Regulation (EU) 2024/2598, issued on October 4, 2024, had not included India among third countries authorized to export products of animal origin intended for human consumption from September 2026.
India’s proposed re-inclusion reflects steps taken to comply with European Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/905. That regulation requires exporting countries to guarantee that animals and animal products sent to the EU are not produced using antimicrobials for growth promotion and do not contain antimicrobials reserved for human medicine. In its May 12 communication, the European Commission said the updated list includes countries that have demonstrated compliance with these restrictions and provided the required assurances.
Indian authorities have strengthened controls across veterinary medicinal product regulation, antimicrobial residue monitoring, traceability and quality assurance in aquaculture and seafood processing. The Commerce Ministry described the revised draft as a major positive development for the seafood sector: once the European Commission adopts the final regulation, Indian aquaculture exports should be able to continue to the EU without interruption after September 2026.
Industry and policymakers expect the development to support further export growth, job creation and foreign exchange earnings from India’s seafood sector. Continued technical cooperation and regulatory alignment with the EU were credited for restoring market access and maintaining confidence in India’s food safety and residue monitoring systems.
