India’s seafood export industry is poised for a dramatic expansion in the United Kingdom following the July 24 signing of the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), hailed as a pivotal step in India-UK trade relations. The agreement was formalized in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds executing the deal.
CETA confers zero-duty access on 99% of tariff lines and unlocks vital services sectors. For India’s marine industry, the removal of UK import tariffs on key seafood categories stands out as a game-changing provision. Exporters of shrimp, frozen fish, squid, lobsters and high-value marine derivatives will now enter the UK market on equal footing with competitors from countries like Vietnam and Singapore, who already benefit from similar FTAs.
Indian seafood shipments to the UK, valued at ₹879 crore in 2024–25, are expected to surge by 70%. Frozen shrimp contributed ₹731 crore, or 77% of that total. India currently accounts for just 2.25% of the UK’s ₹45,476 crore seafood import market. Industry leaders expect a significant shift in market share post-CETA, especially for Vannamei and black tiger shrimp, squid, pomfret, and preserved or prepared seafood products under HS codes 03, 15, 1603, 1604 and 1605.
Previously, UK tariffs on Indian marine products ranged from 0% to 21.5%. These duties are now abolished across categories marked ‘A’ in the UK tariff schedule, including fishing gear and fish oils. Only products under staging category ‘U’, such as HS 1601 (sausages and similar items), are excluded from preferential treatment.
India exported 1.78 million metric tonnes of seafood in 2024–25, generating ₹62,408 crore, with shrimp alone earning ₹40,280 crore. Since 2014–15, export volumes rose 60% and export value increased 88%, supported by expanded destination markets (100 to 130 countries) and a threefold rise in value-added exports (₹7,666 crore).
The fisheries sector sustains 28 million Indian livelihoods and contributes 8% to global fish output. Coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Gujarat stand to gain, given their dominance in seafood production and established infrastructure. Enhanced compliance with UK sanitary and phytosanitary standards is expected to further consolidate India’s reputation for traceability and sustainability.
CETA not only neutralizes tariff disadvantages but also reinforces India’s position as a reliable supplier of premium seafood. With stronger policy support, traceability frameworks and skilled manpower, Indian exporters now hold a competitive edge in diversifying markets beyond the US and China.
The India-UK CETA is a strategic inflection point for the marine economy—promising exponential growth in exports, increased revenue for coastal communities, and a larger footprint in the premium seafood ecosystem. The tides have turned, and Indian seafood is set to ride the wave.
