Pakistan, May 17 — On Saturday, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry stated that the nation’s exports of fish and aquatic products have crossed the $500 million threshold for the first time, describing it as a significant milestone for the maritime industry and the blue economy.
The minister stated that the government’s goal of $500 million for this fiscal year was achieved 46 days ahead of schedule. He credited this achievement to government reforms, enhanced support mechanisms, and the exploration of new markets designed to reinforce the maritime sector and increase export capabilities.
Chaudhry commended the collaborative initiatives undertaken by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the Marine Fisheries Department, and various stakeholders aimed at enhancing quality benchmarks, advancing the fisheries industry, and expanding access to global markets. He also recognized Marine Fisheries Board Director General Dr Mansoor Wasan and his team for achieving their objectives ahead of time.
Emphasizing recent achievements, the minister stated that Pakistani fish and seafood had, for the first time, received permission to enter the Russian market.
As of now, 16 Pakistani firms have received permission to export seafood to Russia. He mentioned that entry into the Russian market could open doors to other countries within the Eurasian Economic Union. He projected that annual seafood exports might reach $800 million, with initial shipments to Russia expected to generate $300 million in income.
Chaudhry mentioned that seafood would be transported through sea, air, and land routes, pointing out that overland corridors to Central Asia present economical options due to increasing demand in Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan.
Regarding sector performance, the minister noted that the marine fisheries sector experienced significant growth in the first half of fiscal year 2025-26, with exports amounting to 122,629 metric tonnes worth $253.24 million from July to December 2025. During the same period in the previous year, exports totaled 102,942 tonnes valued at $208.25 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 19.1% in volume and 21.6% in value. Frozen fish continued to be the leading export category, with shipments of 26,669 tonnes valued at $53.33 million. Shrimps and prawns generated $40.46 million, while frozen cuttlefish contributed $36.13 million. Additional exports, such as shrimp meal, crabs, sardines, mackerel, flatfish, and fish meal, helped diversify the product range and enhance value-added processing.
China continued to be the biggest seafood market, importing over 83,602 tonnes valued at $149.2 million, accounting for almost 59% of all seafood exports. Thailand came in second, mainly importing HACCP-certified shrimps and prawns worth $31.3 million. Exports to the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, and Japan also increased, while efforts to diversify markets led to higher shipments to the European Union, Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Kuwait, and the United States. HACCP is a globally accepted food safety management system that aims to identify, assess, and control potential biological, chemical, and physical hazards during the entire food production process.
Monthly export growth reached $56.42 million in November and $55 million in December, driven by seasonal demand and better logistics. Non-tax income from the fisheries industry rose to Rs127.7 million compared to Rs118 million in the previous year.
Chaudhry also mentioned that Pakistan has obtained a four-year extension for its seafood exports to the United States following the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s designation of Pakistani fisheries as “comparable” under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
The minister revealed a significant infrastructure initiative, stating that the government will create a 100-acre seafood processing and export zone at the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority, aiming to boost the blue economy and enhance its participation in the international seafood market. With an estimated cost of $60-80 million, the project will include 20-25 medium and large-scale processing facilities for fish, shrimp, and cephalopods, as well as facilities for value enhancement and packaging suitable for export.
The area will feature cold storage and blast-freezing units offering multi-temperature storage ranging from -18 to -40 degrees Celsius, as well as ice plants and flake ice stations capable of producing 50-100 tonnes daily, he mentioned.
