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Surge in American purchases saves Indian seafood sector
Tuesday, 03 December 2002, 20:30 IST
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A boost in exports to the U.S. has saved the Indian seafood industry from a severe crisis this year.
Industry estimates indicate that exports to the U.S. have gone up by 35 percent from 
6.78 billion in April-September last year to 9.16 billion for the same period this year.
But while exports to the U.S. show an increase, the traditional Japanese market for Indian seafood has come down from 10.96 billion to 8.82 billion. Europe also showed a marginal decline from 4.65 billion to 4.55 billion.
Abraham Tharakan, the Kerala regional president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, said value addition was one of the main reasons for the improved performance in the U.S. market.
"We have been able to reach 15 percent in value addition and this is a major development. If this did not happen, the industry would have been in severe crisis," Tharakan, who owns one of the biggest seafood export companies in this state, told IANS here.
He said Japan was now depending more on seafood companies in Thailand and Vietnam, leading to a decline in Indian exports.
Tharakan said that while there was a slump in export volume in the April-September period from 151,000 tonnes to 137,000 tonnes this year, in value terms the fall was minimal. The export value fell from 28.32 billion to 28.30 billion.
"One reason for this has been the better price that our products were able to realise. While the price of black tiger shrimps was around $9 last year, this year the average price has gone up to $12 per kilogram," said Tharakan.
Source: IANS
6.78 billion in April-September last year to 9.16 billion for the same period this year.
But while exports to the U.S. show an increase, the traditional Japanese market for Indian seafood has come down from 10.96 billion to 8.82 billion. Europe also showed a marginal decline from 4.65 billion to 4.55 billion.
Abraham Tharakan, the Kerala regional president of the Seafood Exporters Association of India, said value addition was one of the main reasons for the improved performance in the U.S. market.
"We have been able to reach 15 percent in value addition and this is a major development. If this did not happen, the industry would have been in severe crisis," Tharakan, who owns one of the biggest seafood export companies in this state, told IANS here.
He said Japan was now depending more on seafood companies in Thailand and Vietnam, leading to a decline in Indian exports.
Tharakan said that while there was a slump in export volume in the April-September period from 151,000 tonnes to 137,000 tonnes this year, in value terms the fall was minimal. The export value fell from 28.32 billion to 28.30 billion.
"One reason for this has been the better price that our products were able to realise. While the price of black tiger shrimps was around $9 last year, this year the average price has gone up to $12 per kilogram," said Tharakan.
Source: IANS