Pakistan’s seafood exports surpass $500 million for first time, Minister says

Pakistan’s exports of fish and fisheries products have exceeded $500 million for the first time, Maritime Affairs Minister Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Saturday, describing the milestone as a breakthrough for the country’s blue economy.

The government’s export target for the current fiscal year was reached 46 days before year-end, which the minister attributed to reforms, improved facilitation and efforts to expand into new overseas markets.

Chaudhry said Pakistan had secured approval to export seafood to Russia for the first time, with 16 companies authorised to ship to the market. He said exports to Russia alone could generate about $300 million annually and help open access to other countries in the Eurasian Economic Union.

He said Pakistan’s annual seafood exports could rise to $800 million as shipments expand to Russia, Central Asia and other international markets.

To support higher-value processing, the government plans to establish a 100-acre seafood processing and export zone at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority at an estimated cost of $60 million to $80 million.

The facility will include 20 to 25 medium and large processing units for fish, shrimp and cephalopods, along with cold storage, blast-freezing systems, ice plants and export-grade packaging infrastructure.

During July to December of fiscal year 2025–26, Pakistan exported 122,629 metric tonnes of seafood worth $253.24 million, compared with 102,942 tonnes valued at $208.25 million in the same period a year earlier.

That represented a 19.1% increase in export volume and a 21.6% rise in export value.

China remained the largest market, importing 83,602 tonnes worth $149.2 million, or nearly 59% of total seafood exports. Thailand ranked second with imports of HACCP-processed shrimp and prawns valued at $31.3 million.

Frozen fish generated $53.33 million in export earnings, while shrimps and prawns brought in $40.46 million and frozen cuttlefish contributed $36.13 million.

Monthly export receipts peaked at $56.42 million in November and $55 million in December. Non-tax revenue from the fisheries sector rose to Rs127.7 million from Rs118 million a year earlier.

Chaudhry said Pakistan had also secured a four-year extension for seafood exports to the United States after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration classified Pakistani fisheries as “comparable” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.