The United States market for Indian frozen shrimp
USA is the largest market (311,948 t in FY2024-25, MPEDA). Requires FDA seafood HACCP, Prior Notice, SIMP for shrimp and DS-2031 declarations; US anti-dumping and countervailing duties apply to Indian frozen warmwater shrimp in addition to tariffs that changed repeatedly in 2025-26 (reported 18% framework rate from Feb 2026) - verify the current total duty before quoting.
Indian community in United States (Ministry of External Affairs estimate): 6,079,221 overseas Indians (PIO 3,767,737 + NRI 2,311,484) — largest PIO population worldwide.
Frozen Shrimp specification for United States orders
| Parameter | Typical export 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) |
Final values are agreed per contract and checked against the United States requirements below, then confirmed by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Import requirements in United States
| Requirement | Regulator | Document / registration |
|---|---|---|
| Facility registration | FDA | Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent |
| Advance notice of each shipment | FDA | Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air) |
| Importer supplier verification | FDA (FSMA) | FSVP by the US importer |
| Process filing | FDA | FCE registration + SID process filing |
| HACCP & species | FDA / NOAA | Seafood HACCP (21 CFR 123); SIMP for listed species |
General guidance as of November 2026. Confirm with your customs broker or the regulator before shipping. Final regulatory decisions require professional verification.
Shipping frozen shrimp to United States
Typical sea transit Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) → New York / New Jersey: 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days. India-USEC services route via Suez/Med when open; FDA prior notice >=8h before arrival by sea
Supply window: Indian frozen shrimp is mainly produced or harvested Harvest Dec-Feb (ASSUMPTION); Two crops/yr; main harvest Apr-Jul and Oct-Dec (ASSUMPTION). Allow 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days at sea plus 5–10 days for inspection, export clearance and United States customs when you set delivery dates.
Container loading (estimate): 20' about 9-12 MT net in a 20' reefer, 40' HC about 14-22 MT net in a 40' HC reefer depending on pack format.
Quoted on CFR, CIF, FOB, DDP (via US importer of record, case by case); CIF New York / New Jersey is the common choice for first orders.
Where buyers are in United States
| City | Port / airport | Buyer sectors |
|---|---|---|
| New York City | Port of New York and New Jersey (Newark/Elizabeth, Staten Island, Red Hook) · John F. Kenn | HORECA, Indian diaspora grocery & spice distributors, apparel/home-textile importers |
| Houston | Port Houston (Bayport & Barbours Cut container terminals) · George Bush Intercontinental ( | Indian diaspora grocery & restaurants, oilfield & engineering goods buyers (pipes, valves |
| Dallas | Houston, inland (also rail from LA/Long Beach via DFW intermodal) · Dallas/Fort Worth Inte | apparel & home-textile wholesale (Dallas Market Center), Indian diaspora grocers (large Telugu/Gujarati community), IT services |
| Atlanta | Savannah (Georgia Ports Authority), inland ~400 km · Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta Internatio | engineering goods for Southeast distribution, Indian diaspora grocery & restaurant supply (large Gujarati community), home-textile/carpet trade |
| Miami | PortMiami; Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale) · Miami International (MIA) - top US internat | HORECA, Latin America re-export distributors, pharma/generics for LatAm |
| Newark-Edison, New Jersey | Port Newark-Elizabeth (Port of NY/NJ) - largest East Coast container port · Newark Liberty | Indian diaspora grocery/spice wholesalers (largest South Asian hub in US), pharma/generics & API buyers, apparel & home-textile importers |
Frequently asked questions
What do I need to import frozen shrimp into United States?
Key requirements: Facility registration — FDA (Food Facility Registration (biennial, even years Oct-Dec) + US Agent); Advance notice of each shipment — FDA (Prior Notice via PNSI/ACE (<=5 days before; min 8h sea / 2h air)); Importer supplier verification — FDA (FSMA) (FSVP by the US importer); Process filing — FDA (FCE registration + SID process filing). Your customs broker confirms the full list for your HS line.
How long does shipping from India to United States take?
Typically 24-30 via Suez; 32-40 via Cape days port-to-port from Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Sheva) to New York / New Jersey, plus 5–10 days for stuffing, export clearance and destination clearance (estimates).
Does United States have a trade agreement with India?
No FTA; BTA under negotiation (talks 1–4 Jun 2026) [S7]. Tariff on Indian goods as of 22 Oct 2026: MFN + 10% Section 301 (from 24 Jul 2026), or the Section 232 rate for steel/aluminium/autos/copper; IEEPA tariffs struck down by the Supreme Court 20 Feb 2026 — verify weekly [06 §C.3] A preferential certificate of origin is needed to claim any reduced duty.
Which HS code applies to frozen shrimp from India?
Usually HS 030617. United States applies its own national tariff extension to the 6-digit code; confirm the full line with your broker.
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.
Related guides
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