Seafood Export / Odisha Seafood Exports Hit by Middle East Conflict, Odisha Exporters Lose ₹23 Crore

Bhubaneswar, Sep 23: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East has begun to impact Odisha’s seafood exports, with the state reporting significant losses in trade to the region.

Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokula Nanda Mallik informed the Assembly that exporters have suffered losses of nearly ₹23.40 crore due to reduced shipments of fish, shrimp, and other marine products.

According to official data, during the current financial year 2025-26 (April to August), Odisha’s seafood exports to Middle Eastern countries fell by 14.57% in value. Last year, exports during the same period stood at ₹160.57 crore, but this year they dropped to ₹137.17 crore.

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Despite the decline in Middle Eastern markets, Odisha’s overall seafood exports at the global level recorded a 16.36% growth, with an increase of ₹763.94 crore compared to last year. In total, the state exported 1,00,864 metric tonnes of seafood worth ₹5,431.95 crore during the period.

Frozen shrimp continues to dominate Odisha’s seafood exports, accounting for the largest share. In 2025-26 alone, shrimp exports were valued at ₹5,409.92 crore. Other products such as frozen fish, cuttlefish, and dried seafood items also contributed to the export basket.

Minister Mallik provided these figures in response to a question from MLA Pratap Keshari Deb, noting that while Middle Eastern instability has hurt Odisha’s exporters, global demand has cushioned the overall impact.

The minister emphasized that the government is monitoring the situation closely and working with exporters to explore alternative markets. He added that the resilience of Odisha’s seafood industry lies in its diversified export portfolio, which has helped offset regional disruptions.