The recently signed India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) is expected to open up new horizons for India’s seafood export sector, according to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). The pact, inked in July this year, provides zero-duty access to 99 per cent of tariff lines, significantly enhancing the competitiveness of Indian seafood in the UK market.
Key categories such as Vannamei shrimp, frozen squid, lobsters, frozen pomfret, and black tiger shrimp are among the major beneficiaries of this duty-free access.
During a two-day interaction with exporters, MPEDA Chairman D.V. Swamy urged the industry to adopt strategies that focus on value addition and workforce upskilling to fully leverage the agreement’s benefits. The meetings also served as a platform for stakeholders to understand the implications of CETA and discuss practical measures to tap the expanding UK market.
Presentations by Anil Kumar P., Joint Director, MPEDA, highlighted the salient features of the agreement, while Alex Paul Menon, Development Commissioner, MPEZ-SEZ, outlined the prospects for developing a Marine Aquapark SEZ in Tamil Nadu to support sectoral growth.
Officials from the Department of Commerce, the Export Inspection Agency (EIA), and the Seafood Exporters Association of India (SEAI), along with over 90 exporters from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha, participated in the discussions, sharing insights on market trends and export readiness.
India exported marine products worth $7.45 billion in 2024–25, with shrimp, fish, and cuttlefish constituting the bulk of shipments. Exports to the UK touched 16,082 MT valued at $104.43 million, driven primarily by frozen shrimp (77 per cent), followed by frozen fish (8 per cent).
Industry experts believe the India–UK CETA could potentially double seafood exports to the UK in the near term, catalyzing economic growth, employment generation, and innovation, while promoting sustainable practices.
Swamy emphasized that realizing this potential will require collective efforts to improve product quality, enhance processing capacities, and train skilled labour to meet global standards — positioning India as a competitive, high-value seafood supplier in international trade.