Pakistan Seafood Exports Reach Record $568m in FY2025-26
Pakistan’s seafood sector has achieved a new export milestone, with Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announcing that shipments reached a record $568 million during fiscal year 2025-26. The announcement places fisheries among the country’s stronger export performers at a time when Pakistan is seeking broader foreign exchange earnings and more resilient trade channels.
The minister said the rise in seafood exports reflected renewed attention to the blue economy, improved market access, and continued efforts to align the sector with international food safety and quality requirements. The achievement is being presented by the government as evidence that Pakistan’s coastal and marine economy can contribute more meaningfully to national growth if regulatory oversight and value addition continue to improve.
Frozen fish remained the largest export category, bringing in $105.09 million during the fiscal year. Frozen squid and cuttlefish followed closely with $103.71 million, while fish meal contributed $83.12 million, showing that Pakistan’s seafood basket is expanding beyond conventional raw fish shipments into a wider range of processed and semi-processed products.
Other key export items also made notable contributions, including shrimps worth $62.14 million, crabs at $36.89 million, sardines at $30.62 million, mackerels at $22.67 million, flat fish at $17.24 million, octopus at $15.18 million, and surimi or minced fish meat at $14.63 million. These figures highlight the importance of product diversification for Pakistan’s fisheries exporters, particularly as global buyers increasingly demand consistent quality and traceable supply chains.
Chaudhry credited the Marine Fisheries Department, Dr Mansoor Ali Wassan, exporters, processors, and industry stakeholders for helping the sector reach what he described as an unprecedented target. He said the progress was linked to stronger regulatory checks, improved compliance standards, and institutional support aimed at keeping Pakistani seafood acceptable in competitive international markets.
Pakistan’s seafood was shipped mainly to China, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. The spread of destinations suggests that the sector is not dependent on a single market and has room to build stronger commercial links across East Asia, the Gulf, Southeast Asia, and North America.
The record also comes despite pressure on regional trade and maritime logistics caused by instability in the Gulf region. For an export sector tied closely to shipping routes, port handling, cold-chain reliability, and international inspection regimes, maintaining momentum during such disruption is being seen as a sign of operational resilience.
Pakistan’s fisheries sector has long been viewed as underutilised compared with the country’s coastline and marine resource potential. Challenges such as outdated handling practices, limited processing capacity, inconsistent quality control, and insufficient branding have previously restricted earnings, even as global demand for seafood has continued to rise.
The government says the next phase will focus on strengthening quality assurance, widening export destinations, encouraging value-added processing, and improving the global competitiveness of Pakistani seafood. A performance review ceremony is also planned to recognise the country’s top 10 fisheries exporters, with certificates of appreciation expected to be presented by the prime minister.