A new window of opportunity for seafood exports has opened for Andhra Pradesh, which has been hit hard by the United States President Donald Trump’s tariff regime. AP, which accounts for 80 per cent of the country’s shrimp exports and 34 pc of marine exports valued at around ₹21,246 crore annually, is exploring new markets in Australia. For the millions tied to the shrimp trade, the move offers a glimmer of hope, a chance to turn adversity into an opportunity.
During his ongoing tour of Australia, the state IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh said the Australian government is all set to ease restrictions on the import of prawns.
“Australia has granted its first import approval for unpeeled Indian prawns. A long-standing hurdle for Indian seafood exporters has been Australia’s restrictions on unpeeled prawns due to white spot virus detection,” Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, posted on X.
Lokesh has been holding meetings with government officials and investors to showcase Andhra Pradesh as a preferred investment destination.
In an apparent reference to the US tariffs, the minister said, “we should continue to open new markets to de-risk ourselves from too much dependence on one market”.
According to the Commerce Ministry, America is a major importer of Indian seafood in terms of value, with imports worth $2.71 billion shipped in 2024-25 as against $2.55 billion the previous year.
China, the European Union, South East Asia, Japan and the Middle East are other major importers of Indian seafood like prawns.
Australia had long restricted the import of unpeeled prawns from India after the detection of white spot virus in previous consignments. The ban has been a persistent challenge for exporters, particularly prawn farmers and traders from north Andhra who were eager to regain access to the Australian market after the massive tariffs announced by America, Andhra officials said.
Australia lifting the ban is expected to provide fresh momentum to prawn exporters across India and create new opportunities for coastal Andhra’s seafood economy, they said.
Since the US tariffs came into effect in August, the Naidu government has been searching for avenues to rescue the state’s aqua food sector, a major industry here.
Andhra Pradesh supplies about 33 pc of the seafood exported from India. Shrimps dominate the industry, accounting for over 90 pc of Indian seafood exports to the US.
With a long coastline and conducive climate, the state is also the leading producer of shrimps, reportedly accounting for 70 per cent of total farming in the country.
Around 3 lakh farmers are involved in aquaculture in Andhra Pradesh, whereas an estimated 50 lakh are either directly or indirectly dependent on the sector, the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said.
However, the Donald Trump administration’s tariffs have sounded a death knell for the thriving industry, as about 60 pc of Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp exports in 2024-25 — 3.70 lakh metric tonnes (LMT) of shrimps — were to the US.
As part of its efforts to shield aqua farmers, Naidu has also requested the NDA government to support the sector in various ways, and the state is also urging the Centre to explore alternative foreign markets.
He also sought interim financial support for exporters, clarity on tariff/tax relief schemes, and noted that exporters were ready to supply seafood to the EU.
To protect the farmers from export shocks, the state is betting big on improving domestic consumption with Naidu encouraging the inclusion of aqua food, such as fish and prawns, in the diet.
His administration is also forming a firm, the AP Prawn Producers Company, an initiative to aid shrimp producers through the establishment of producer organisations and domestic marketing efforts.
Also read: Andhra CM on UAE tour to woo global investors
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