Budget 2025-26 slashes import duties on fish paste and hydrolysate and boosts seafood exports with EXIM-friendly policies.
The Union Budget 2025-26 has introduced significant measures to enhance India’s seafood export competitiveness and streamline imports for the fisheries sector. The government has reduced Basic Customs Duty (BCD) on key inputs:
- Frozen Fish Paste (Surimi): Duty slashed from 30% to 5% to boost manufacturing and export of value-added seafood products like imitation crab meat.
- Fish Hydrolysate: Import duty reduced from 15% to 5%, lowering aquafeed production costs and strengthening the shrimp farming industry.
The budget also promotes deep-sea fishing and tuna harvesting in the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands to unlock India’s 2.5 lakh tonnes of untapped marine fisheries potential, further enhancing seafood exports.
Additionally, the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) lending limit has been raised from ₹3 lakh to ₹5 lakh, ensuring better financial access for fishers, processors, and exporters.
With these reforms, India aims to increase global market share and solidify its position as a top seafood-exporting nation.
(SOURCE: PIB Delhi)
