In the total marine product exports, the major share had been of frozen shrimp only. The share of shrimp export in the total marine exports was nearly 80%. But subsequently it comes down to 73% in 1981, 58% in 1986 and 36% in 1993. This has remained about the same (36%) in 1998-99 also. The reason for such high share of shrimp is its unit value of price. The unit value of frozen shrimp has been next to frozen lobsters, which has the highest value. The unit values of lobsters shrimp and other fish for some years were as given below.

The annual shrimp landing has increased considerably from 1.34 lakh MT in 1980-81 to 2.87 lakh MT in 1991-92 with a compound growth rate of 1.76% per annum. Currently the shrimp resources are being exploited to the maximum sustainable level. Japan has been the major importing country of Indian shrimp, followed by USA, Germany, France, Belgium, UK and Netherlands of Western Europe. But now, there is some shift or change in importing countries with United Arab Emirates, China, Thailand, Italy and Spain emerging as new importers.

Direction of trade

Analysis of export data according to destination countries or direction of trade is important to know the quantities exported to different countries, prices offered by them and export value realized by the exporting country. Since shrimp is an important item of export among various items of marine fishery, the direction of trade for shrimp is presented in this article for the year 1998-99. Table 1 gives quantity exported to each country, value realized and unit value or price for the year 1998-99. Shrimp is exported from India to in all 66 countries. But major 22 importing countries are shown individually in this table. In the year 1998-99 total quantity of shrimp exported was 111.41 thousand tonnes. Japan imported the maximum quantity of frozen shrimp of 42.223 thousand tonnes (37.90%). This was followed by USA (16.90%), UK (4.18%), United Arab Emirates (4.0%) and Federal Republic of China (2.82%). Other countries to which exports were more than one per cent were Thailand, Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Spain and Australia. All remaining countries imported small quantities. However, the diversification of export trade is quite wide as the frozen shrimp is exported to 66 countries. But the trade is quite lopsided (imbalanced), largely depending only on one country i.e. Japan.

Unit value or price is the most important factor deciding where to sell? Or where to export? Unit value column shows wide variations in prices paid by different countries. Minimum price was paid by Netherlands (Rs.121.71 per kg) and maximum by Chile (Rs.282.76 per kg). First five countries, which imported larger quantities, paid prices ranging from Rs.174.223 to Rs.255.34. Japan, which imported the largest quantity, paid relatively fewer prices. Other countries which paid better prices (more than Rs.200 per Kg) were Australia, Germany, Canada, Malaysia, China (Taipei) and Chile. Overall average price was Rs.263.75. Prices paid by other 44 countries, which imported small quantities individually, paid better prices (average price Rs.398.27 per Kg). Due to varying prices, the values realized from each country are not in proportion to the quantity imported. Japan imported 37.90% quantity but the value realized was 34.73% due to relatively low prices. Most of the countries showed less value realization, except other 44 countries of which value realization was more that is 29.19% against the quantity imported 19.33%.

Export of prawn

Shrimp and prawn have some different characteristics and in export trade, they are classified separately. In the total quantity of shrimp and prawn, their shares are 95 and 5% respectively. Direction of trade of frozen prawns is given in Table 2. Frozen prawns are exported to 34 countries, out of which shares of nine important countries are explained in this table. Of the total quantity of 5.638 thousand tonnes, the largest quantity of 1.434 thousand tonnes (25.43%) was exported to Japan. This was followed by U.A.E (23.20%), U.S.A. (18.64%) and so on. The share of remaining 25 countries was 11.76%. Regarding unit value or price, maximum price was received from Japan (Rs. 291.84 per kg), next being U.K. (Rs. 235.35 per kg), U.S.A. (Rs. 208.26) and U.A.E (Rs.200.61). Minimum price of Rs. 64.98 per kg was received from Sri Lanka, which is a neighbouring country of India. Average price of other 25 countries came to Rs. 260.78 per kg. The overall average price for all the countries was Rs. 219.67. The average price received for prawns (Rs. 219.67) was much lesser than that of shrimp (Rs. 263.75). This was because shrimps have better quality and more liking/ preference from consumers. The major countries importing shrimp and prawn are, by and large, common. 

Export of frozen shrimp-Direction of trade (1998-99)

Export of frozen prawns-direction of trade (1998-99)

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