ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s seafood exports climbed to a record $568 million during the fiscal year 2025-26, marking the highest annual earnings ever recorded by the sector, Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced.
The minister attributed the milestone to the government’s initiatives aimed at expanding the blue economy, improving seafood processing, and ensuring compliance with international food safety and quality standards.
The latest export earnings exceeded the government’s long-standing target of $500 million, surpassing the previous record of $496 million achieved in FY2022-23. Although fisheries account for a relatively small share of Pakistan’s total exports, the sector has been identified as a key driver of export-led growth as the country works to strengthen its economy.
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According to the minister, frozen fish remained Pakistan’s top seafood export, generating $105.09 million, followed by frozen squid and cuttlefish at $103.71 million and fish meal at $83.12 million. Other major export categories included shrimps ($62.14 million), crabs ($36.89 million), sardines ($30.62 million), mackerels ($22.67 million), flatfish ($17.24 million), octopus ($15.18 million), and surimi (minced fish meat), which contributed $14.63 million in export earnings.
The minister said seafood exports were shipped mainly to China, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States.
He said the record export performance was achieved despite disruptions to regional trade and maritime logistics caused by the recent US-Iran conflict in the Middle East, describing it as a testament to the resilience of Pakistan’s fisheries sector and the determination of its exporters and regulatory institutions.
Chaudhry praised Dr. Mansoor Ali Wassan and the Marine Fisheries Department for ensuring compliance with international quality and safety standards, strengthening regulatory oversight, and facilitating access to key export markets. He added that a performance recognition ceremony would be held soon, during which the prime minister would present certificates of appreciation to the country’s top ten seafood exporters.
Pakistan’s seafood exports have experienced fluctuations in recent years due to challenges including international market restrictions, overfishing, and shortages of raw materials, which have reportedly left many seafood processing plants operating below capacity.
According to the minister, the Maritime Affairs Ministry had earlier reported seafood exports of $489.2 million for the fiscal year 2024-25. However, subsequent data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics revised the figure to $465.4 million for the same period.
