At a glance
- Incoterms
- CFR, CIF, FOB, DDP (via US importer of record, case by case)
India's frozen shrimp export trade
India exported US$5,177 mn of frozen shrimp in FY2024-25 according to mpeda.gov.in.
Largest destinations by value share: USA 311,948 t; China 136,164 t; EU 99,310 t (volumes)
Export markets we serve
| Market | What matters there | Sea transit from India |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Importer licence & controls (CFIA (SFCR)); Labelling (CFIA / Health Canada) | 26-34 via Suez; 34-42 via Cape days |
| United States | Facility registration (FDA); Advance notice of each shipment (FDA) | 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days |
| Germany | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 21-27 via Suez; 31-38 via Cape days |
| Netherlands | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 18-24 via Suez; 28-35 via Cape days |
| France | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 20–25 d to Le Havre; 15–20 d to Marseille-Fos (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Italy | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 15–20 d to Genoa/La Spezia via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| Spain | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 15–20 d to Valencia/Barcelona/Algeciras via Suez (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2: typical liner schedules) |
| United Arab Emirates | Federal food registration / import permit (MOCCAE); Company & product registration before arrival (Dubai Municipality Food Safety Dept) | 3-6 days |
| Saudi Arabia | Importer & product registration (SFDA); Clearance documents (SFDA via FASAH) | 6-10 days |
| Belgium | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 19-25 via Suez; 29-36 via Cape days |
| Poland | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 28–35 d to Gdańsk (direct Asia–Baltic loops or via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder) (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Sweden | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 28–35 d to Gothenburg via Hamburg/Rotterdam feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Denmark | Border control & pre-notification (Member-state BCPs / DG SANTE); Health certificate & listed establishment (DG SANTE / EIC-EIA (India CA)) | 28–35 d to Aarhus/Copenhagen via Hamburg feeder (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Qatar | General import clearance | 6–9 d to Hamad Port, often via Jebel Ali/Salalah transhipment (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Kuwait | General import clearance | 8–12 d to Shuwaikh/Shuaiba, usually via Jebel Ali (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Oman | General import clearance | 3–5 d Mundra/Nhava Sheva → Sohar/Muscat; 4–6 d Salalah (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Bahrain | General import clearance | 7–10 d via Jebel Ali/Dammam (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| Japan | General import clearance | 18–25 d to Tokyo/Yokohama/Kobe via Singapore (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| South Korea | General import clearance | 16–22 d to Busan via Singapore (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
| China | General import clearance | 14–20 d to Shanghai/Ningbo; 12–16 d to Shenzhen via Singapore/Colombo (ASSUMPTION — this file's analyst estimate, not in 06 §F.2) |
Transit times are typical port-to-port estimates; regulatory items are the main product-specific requirements, not an exhaustive list.
Where frozen shrimp is sourced in India
Andhra Pradesh — Nellore, East Godavari, West Godavari, Krishna. Bhimavaram-Nellore belt - largest vannamei farming and processing cluster
Gujarat — Surat, Valsad, Navsari. Farmed and processing
Odisha — Balasore, Bhadrak. Farmed vannamei and black tiger
Tamil Nadu — Nagapattinam, Thoothukudi. Processing plants
West Bengal — Purba Medinipur, North 24 Parganas. Black tiger
- Kochi spice trade hub (Mattancherry) / Wayanad (Kerala; Karnataka) · ships via Cochin · season: Harvest Dec-Feb (ASSUMPTION)
- Bhimavaram-Nellore aquaculture & processing belt (Andhra Pradesh; Gujarat; Odisha; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal) · ships via Visakhapatnam (50.87% of marine exports FY25 - secondary source) · season: Two crops/yr; main harvest Apr-Jul and Oct-Dec (ASSUMPTION)
- Veraval (largest fish-processing cluster) / Kochi-Aroor (Gujarat; Kerala; Maharashtra; Karnataka; TN) · ships via Pipavav/Mundra (Veraval) · season: Fishing season Aug-May (monsoon ban Jun-Jul both coasts) (ASSUMPTION - statutory ban dates vary by coast)
Typical export specification
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Count (pcs/lb or pcs/kg) | HLSO 16/20 to 71/90 pcs/lb; PD/PDTO 21/25 to 100/200 (typical) |
| Glaze | 10-20% declared, net weight after deglazing (typical) |
| Storage | -18 °C or colder |
| Antibiotics | Not detected per destination method (EU/US residue monitoring) |
| Additives | STPP/non-phosphate soaking declared per buyer specification (typical) |
| Microbiology | Salmonella and Vibrio absent; TPC per buyer spec (typical) |
Agreed per contract and confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Export documentation
Documents we prepare or arrange for each shipment:
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of lading
- Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies)
- EIC health certificate (TRACES NT for EU)
- Catch/aquaculture origin declaration
- US DS-2031 shrimp exporter declaration
- Certificate of analysis (antibiotics, microbiology)
- MPEDA registration reference
Frequently asked questions
What is the HS code for frozen shrimp exported from India?
Frozen Shrimp is usually classified under HS 030617 (Frozen shrimps and prawns (other than cold-water)). Cooked/value-added shrimp may fall under 1605 21/29 (prepared or preserved). Use the destination tariff line for US/EU entries.
Where is frozen shrimp produced in India?
Main clusters: Kochi spice trade hub (Mattancherry) / Wayanad, Kerala; Karnataka; Bhimavaram-Nellore aquaculture & processing belt, Andhra Pradesh; Gujarat; Odisha; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal; Veraval (largest fish-processing cluster) / Kochi-Aroor, Gujarat; Kerala; Maharashtra; Karnataka; TN.
Which documents are needed to export frozen shrimp?
Commercial invoice, Packing list, Bill of lading, Certificate of origin (preferential where an FTA applies), EIC health certificate (TRACES NT for EU), Catch/aquaculture origin declaration, US DS-2031 shrimp exporter declaration. Destination-specific registrations are listed on each market page.
What shrimp forms do you supply?
HOSO, HLSO, PD, PDTO, PUD, cooked and value-added formats in block or IQF packing.
Are your processing plants EU-approved?
We source from MPEDA-registered, EIC-approved plants; EU orders are placed only with establishments on the EU approved list.
What does 21/25 mean?
It is the count of shrimp per pound (or per kg if specified); 21/25 means 21 to 25 pieces per pound.
Market guides
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