Totals
India exported 71,885 metric tons of shrimp in May 2025, marking a 15% year-over-year increase and a new record for May. Export value grew even faster, rising 24% to reach $503 million. These gains increased total exports for the first five months of the year to 279,018 metric tons, a 4% rise compared to the same period in 2024. The cumulative export value for January through May reached $1.98 billion, marking a 14% year-on-year increase, suggesting not only stable volumes but also an improved product mix and better average prices.
Product Trends
May’s growth was driven primarily by raw L. vannamei, which rose 14% to 59,241 metric tons. Year-to-date, L. vannamei shipments totaled 217,033 metric tons, with a modest growth pace of 1% compared to last year. Value-added exports continued to perform strongly, increasing 54% in May to 7,341 metric tons. With cumulative shipments now at 30,512 metric tons—38% above the same period last year—this category continues to play an increasingly important role in India’s export strategy.
Wild-caught shrimp also contributed positively in May with a 12% year-on-year increase, while year-to-date volumes grew 5% to 24,022 metric tons. The one category under pressure remained raw P. monodon, which fell 34% in May to just under 1,200 metric tons. However, this decline should be interpreted with caution, as P. monodon harvesting typically ramps up from September onward. A clearer picture of its performance will likely emerge in the final third of the year.
Market Trends
The United States remained the primary driver of growth. Imports from India surged to 32,810 metric tons in May, a 28% year-over-year increase and the highest monthly volume to the US so far this year. Whether this is a pre-tariff-driven push remains to be seen, but the jump is notable. On a cumulative basis, the US imported 125,791 metric tons from India between January and May, representing a 15% increase from the same period last year.
China, after a weak April, rebounded with a 20% increase in May to 17,337 metric tons. However, year-to-date exports to China remained 9% below 2024 levels, highlighting the ongoing volatility of this market. Exports to the European Union continued their strong trajectory, growing 24% in May and reaching 39,019 metric tons for the year so far—25% higher than last year. Japan and Canada also showed modest but steady growth, with year-to-date increases of 11% and 8% respectively.
Byte in Numbers
Total Shrimp Exports (HS 030617, HS 160521, HS 160529)
- Volume
- Jan: 49,058 MT = -3% YoY
- Feb: 45,487 MT = -11% YoY
- Mar: 60,113 MT = +14% YoY
- Apr: 52,475 MT = +0% YoY
- May: 71,885 MT = +15% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 279,018 MT = +4% YoY
- Value
- Jan: $355 million = +9% YoY
- Feb: $328 million = -1% YoY
- Mar: $427 million = +26% YoY
- Apr: $367 million = +9% YoY
- May: $503 million = +24% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): $1,980 million = +14% YoY
Products
- Raw L. vannamei (HS 03061720)
- Jan: 35,766 MT = -8% YoY
- Feb: 33,262 MT = -15% YoY
- Mar: 46,580 MT = +14% YoY
- Apr: 42,183 MT = -2% YoY
- May: 59,241 MT = +14% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 217,033 MT = +1% YoY
- Raw P. monodon (HS 03061740)
- Jan: 2,425 MT = -0% YoY
- Feb: 1,230 MT = -47% YoY
- Mar: 1,444 MT = -28% YoY
- Apr: 1,153 MT = -31% YoY
- May: 1,199 MT = -34% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 7,451 MT = -27% YoY
- Value-Added (HS 160521, HS 160529)
- Jan: 5,631 MT = +38% YoY
- Feb: 6,055 MT = +31% YoY
- Mar: 6,563 MT = +41% YoY
- Apr: 4,921 MT = +27% YoY
- May: 7,341 MT = +54% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 30,512 MT = +38% YoY
- Raw Wild-Caught (HS 03061711/19/30/50/90)
- Jan: 5,236 MT = -0% YoY
- Feb: 4,939 MT = -5% YoY
- Mar: 5,525 MT = +8% YoY
- Apr: 4,218 MT = +15% YoY
- May: 4,103 MT = +12% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 24,022 MT = +5% YoY
Top 5 Markets
- USA
- Jan: 21,724 MT = +6% YoY
- Feb: 21,813 MT = -3% YoY
- Mar: 26,794 MT = +32% YoY
- Apr: 22,651 MT = +14% YoY
- May: 32,810 MT = +28% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 125,791 MT = +15% YoY
- China
- Jan: 5,247 MT = -45% YoY
- Feb: 5,112 MT = -40% YoY
- Mar: 10,908 MT = +13% YoY
- Apr: 10,286 MT = -12% YoY
- May: 17,337 MT = +20% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 48,890 MT = -9% YoY
- EU
- Jan: 7,303 MT = +21% YoY
- Feb: 7,537 MT = +27% YoY
- Mar: 8,297 MT = +17% YoY
- Apr: 7,822 MT = +36% YoY
- May: 8,060 MT = +24% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 39,019 MT = +25% YoY
- Japan
- Jan: 2,299 MT = -14% YoY
- Feb: 2,005 MT = -9% YoY
- Mar: 3,210 MT = +46% YoY
- Apr: 2,435 MT = +35% YoY
- May: 3,152 MT = +8% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 13,101 MT = +11% YoY
- Canada
- Jan: 1,399 MT = -17% YoY
- Feb: 1,566 MT = -15% YoY
- Mar: 2,303 MT = +29% YoY
- Apr: 2,059 MT = +27% YoY
- May: 1,809 MT = +20% YoY
- YTD (Jan–May): 9,135 MT = +8% YoY
