Backed by a spurt in unit value realisation, India's marine product exports have surged in value, even as volumes registered tepid growth. The country's marine exports have grown 1.48 per cent in volume, 21.68 per cent in rupee realisation and 18.72 per cent in dollar earnings during April-December 2011.

Export of frozen shrimp and fish have registered a growth both in quantity and value. The growth in value was spurred by increased exports to South-East Asia, Japan and the US, destinations which have registered a positive growth both in quantity and value.

Shrimp Exports

Frozen shrimp continued to be the major export item accounting for 51.35 per cent of the total foreign exchange realisations. Shrimp exports during the period increased by 17.67 per cent in quantity, 34.77 per cent in rupee terms and 32.98 per cent in foreign exchange realisations.

Unit value of shrimp exports increased by 13 per cent. Export of Vannamei shrimp rose sharply, growing by 272 per cent in quantity, and 326 per cent and 318 per cent in rupee and dollar terms.

Export of frozen shrimp to the US registered a 38.34 per cent growth in quantity, 41.97 per cent in rupee value and 41.07 per cent in foreign exchange earnings. Frozen shrimp export to Japan also showed an increase of 10.15 per cent, 19.40 per cent and 18 per cent respectively.

Fish was the second largest export item in value terms, accounting for 39.43 per cent in quantity and 19.14 per cent in dollar terms. Frozen fish exports increased by 6.4 per cent in quantity, 21.81 per cent in rupee and 15.96 per cent in dollar terms. Unit value realisation of fish exports grew by 8.99 per cent.

Squid and Cuttlefish

Frozen squid and cuttlefish exports decreased in quantity but rose in value both in rupee and dollar terms. Frozen cuttlefish exports fell 12.3 per cent in quantity, even as rupee and dollar earnings improved by 14.97 and 11.35 per cent, respectively.

There was a considerable increase in unit value realisation at 26.97 per cent. Frozen squid exports declined by 12.21 per cent in quantity but grew by 20.1 per cent and 18.28 per cent in rupee and dollar realisations, respectively. Unit value grew by 34.73 per cent.

South-East Asia

For the first time, South-East Asia became the largest marine products export market with a share of 25.75 per cent in dollar earnings and accounting for 39.58 per cent of the quantity. Exports to this region grew by 43.19 per cent in quantity, and 103.7 per cent and 95.99 per cent in terms of rupee and foreign exchange earnings, respectively.

The EU slipped to second spot with a share of 22 per cent, followed by the US ( 19 per cent), Japan (14 per cent), China (7 per cent), Middle East (4 per cent) and other countries (8 per cent).

While the quantum of exports to the EU declined by 13.6 per cent, dollar earnings rose by 1.3 per cent. Exports to the US grew both in quantity and dollar terms, by 31.3 per cent and 39 per cent respectively. Japan also registered positive growth of 19 per cent in volume and 18 per cent in dollar value.

The surge in exports to South-East Asia is attributed to shortage of raw material in that region as well as due to Indo-Asean trade pacts. The short supply from South-East Asia and the Indo-Japanese CEPA also boosted exports to Japan.

> cj@thehindu.co.in

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