Key facts
- India exported US$5,177 million of frozen shrimp in FY2024-25 (mpeda.gov.in).
- Largest destinations by value: USA 311,948 t; China 136,164 t; EU 99,310 t (volumes)
- 3 production clusters mapped, in Kerala; Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh; Gujarat; Odisha; Tamil Nadu; West Bengal, Gujarat; Kerala; Maharashtra; Karnataka; TN.
- Market guides for 21 countries, each with destination requirements and transit times.
- Certifications available from the supply base: FSSAI licence, MPEDA registration, EIC export health certificate, HACCP, ISO 22000 and more.
- Typical minimum order: One 40' reefer (about 13-16 MT net for IQF retail; up to about 20+ MT for block) (typical).
Product overview
Frozen shrimp is India's largest seafood export. MPEDA reports FY2024-25 frozen-shrimp exports of US$ 5,177 million (741,529 t), with the USA by far the largest market (311,948 t), followed by China (136,164 t), the EU (99,310 t), South-East Asia, Japan and the Middle East.
Most Indian export shrimp is farmed Pacific white-leg (Litopenaeus vannamei) from Andhra Pradesh (Nellore, Godavari, Bhimavaram), with smaller volumes from Gujarat, Odisha, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal. Black tiger (Penaeus monodon) is a smaller premium line.
Product forms range from head-on shell-on (HOSO) and headless shell-on (HLSO) to peeled deveined tail-on/off (PDTO, PD, PUD), cooked and ready-to-cook value-added lines. Packing is block-frozen or IQF, glazed, in retail or catering cartons. Processors must be MPEDA-registered and EIC-approved, and EU exports require an EU-listed establishment.
HS note: Cooked/value-added shrimp may fall under 1605 21/29 (prepared or preserved). Use the destination tariff line for US/EU entries.
Specifications
| 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) |
Typical commercial values. Final specifications are fixed per contract and verified by lab report or pre-shipment inspection.
Grades & variants
HOSO / HLSO
Head-on or headless shell-on; block or semi-IQF.
PDTO / PD / PUD (raw)
Peeled, deveined, tail-on or tail-off; IQF for retail and food service.
Cooked PDTO / ring
Cooked and peeled for retail and party rings.
Value-added
Breaded, skewered, marinated or sushi-ebi.
Black tiger
Premium larger sizes (HOSO, HLSO, PDTO).
Packaging, MOQ & container loading
| Packing | Sizes | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Block frozen | 6 x 2 kg or 10 x 1.8 kg master cartons (typical) | Common for reprocessing markets |
| IQF | 1 kg / 2 lb / 12 oz retail bags in master cartons | Private label printed bags |
| Cooked retail | Trays / rings with sleeves | Plant capability dependent |
Container load (estimate): 20' GP 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. Volume-limited for retail packs; reefer at -18 °C
Customisation: Count sizes, glaze level, retail private-label bags, cooked and value-added formats
Where we source in India
Producing regions and manufacturing clusters our supplier network draws from.
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
Market requirements by region
European Union
EU (99,310 t) accepts only EU-listed Indian establishments with TRACES NT health certificates; aquaculture crustaceans from India are subject to enhanced residue testing - confirm current check frequency.
United States & Canada
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.
Gulf (GCC)
Middle East took 32,784 t in FY2024-25 (MPEDA); Saudi SFDA requires an import permit for fish and crustaceans.
East Asia
China (136,164 t, MPEDA FY2024-25) requires the processing plant to be registered with GACC; Japan buys premium black tiger and value-added nobashi/ebi products.
General guidance, not legal advice. Confirm current requirements with your customs broker or the regulator.
Quality control
- • EIC-approved processing establishment (HACCP)
- • Pre-shipment antibiotic residue and microbiology testing
- • Third-party count/glaze inspection on request
- • Temperature-monitored reefer with data logger
Certifications available
- • FSSAI licence
- • MPEDA registration
- • EIC export health certificate
- • HACCP
- • ISO 22000
- • BRCGS Food Safety
- • Halal certificate
- • US FDA registration / approval
Held by the producing supplier for the specific lot; copies shared with the quote.
Shipping documents
- • 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
Trade data
| Period | Flow | Value (USD mn) | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024-25 | India exportsLine: Frozen shrimp | 5,177 | verified | mpeda.gov.in |
Top destinations: USA 311,948 t; China 136,164 t; EU 99,310 t (volumes)
Export markets
Frequently asked questions
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.
How is antibiotic compliance checked?
Farms and plants are covered by India's National Residue Control Plan, and export lots are tested for antibiotic residues before shipment.
Do US anti-dumping duties apply?
Yes, Indian frozen warmwater shrimp is subject to US anti-dumping and countervailing duty orders; rates are exporter-specific and should be checked before contracting.
Request a quote for Frozen Shrimp (Vannamei and Black Tiger)
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