US tariffs have hit seafood industry and shrimp exports, says Maharashtra fisheries minister Nitesh Rane

MUMBAI: Fisheries minister Nitesh Rane on Wednesday told the legislative assembly that an increase in US tariffs has affected the fishing business and seafood export industry in the state. Rane said information from the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) revealed US tariffs on Indian seafood products have affected the export of shrimp in particular. Nitesh said this in a written reply to a question by MLA Babaji Kale.

"According to the information received from MPEDA, an organisation under the jurisdiction of the centre's department of commerce, negotiations are underway between India and the US regarding a trade agreement... The issue of imposing import duty on American products is a subject of the Centre. Regarding the possible loss to the fisheries sector due to the increase in import duty imposed by the US, the measures have been taken to provide relief to the fishermen," Nitesh said.

"The plan is to promote the strengthening of the domestic fish market to address potential damage to the fisheries sector due to the increase in import duties imposed by the US. The state govt has given administrative approval to the CM's Fisheries Scheme in March 2026. Through this scheme, inland fisheries and marine areas will be promoted. The centre has reduced the GST on fishing equipment and inputs from 18% to 5%," Nitesh said.

Seafood exporters say "not a single prawn" has been exported from Mumbai to the US since Sept 2025 owing to the sanctions.

Irfan Khan, director, Harbour Exports said, "We have not shipped a single container to the US since Sept 2025. Not a single prawn — let alone a single container. Thankfully I have a factory in Dubai so we are reworking our packaging and trying to finish our orders, just to hold on to one big client. We have even incurred costs on setting up an office in Vietnam to export fish to the US as a Vietnamese exporter — even at a loss. What pains me is that the revenue and foreign exchange that could have been earned by India's farmers and fishermen is sadly being lost."

Assistant director of MPEDA, said, "Fisheries exports from Maharashtra are minimal. There are hardly two or three units registered with US FDA. Most of our consignments go to Europe. Shrimp exports are done from Andhra Pradesh, since that is where most of the cultivation is done. But seafood exporters nationwide are confounded because the US tariff rates and conditions are changing so rapidly."

Among the fortunate few is Kader Exports whose consignments are travelling to the US. Mohammed Farid Khan, general manager, corp exports, of the company said, "Our shrimp exports to the US have not stopped. The earlier situation was different when tariff was 50%. But that is now lowered to 10%. Moreover, the US Supreme Court has questioned the tariffs. So our shrimp exports are normal."