India–UK Trade Pact Opens Doors For 70% Growth In Marine Exports

New Delhi, July 26 (KNN) With the formal signing of the India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), one of the major beneficiaries is India’s marine sector, which will now enjoy duty-free access for a wide range of seafood products in the UK market.

This is expected to boost exports of shrimp, frozen fish, and value-added marine goods, alongside other labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, leather, and gems and jewellery.

Under the agreement, all fish and fisheries products falling under the UK’s ‘A’ category tariff schedule—covering a range of important Harmonised System (HS) codes—will now enjoy 100 percent duty-free access. 

This includes items classified under HS Code 03, which encompasses fish, crustaceans, molluscs, and other aquatic invertebrates; HS Code 05, which covers coral, cowries, and Artemia; and HS Code 15, which pertains to fish oils and marine fats. 

Additionally, products listed under HS Codes 1603, 1604, and 1605, such as prepared or preserved seafood, caviar, extracts, and juices, are also included. 

The agreement further extends to HS Code 23, which consists of fish meal, shrimp feed, and residues used in animal feed, as well as HS Code 95, covering fishing gear.

Previously, these products faced tariffs ranging from 0 percent to 21.5 percent, which have now been eliminated. 

However, HS Code 1601—covering sausages and similar items—remains excluded from preferential treatment under staging category ‘U’.

In 2024–25, India exported seafood worth USD 7.38 billion (Rs 60,523 crore), totaling 1.78 million metric tonnes. Frozen shrimp accounted for the bulk of earnings at USD 4.88 billion. 

Marine exports to the UK stood at USD 104 million (Rs 879 crore), with shrimp alone contributing USD 80 million—approximately 77 percent of the total. 

Despite this, India held only a 2.25 percent share in the UK’s USD 5.4 billion seafood import market.

Industry projections suggest that with CETA’s implementation, Indian marine exports to the UK could rise by up to 70 percent in the coming years, improving market share and overall competitiveness. 

This development places India on a more level playing field with competitors like Vietnam and Singapore, which already enjoy free trade agreements with the UK.

The fisheries sector is critical to India’s economy, supporting the livelihoods of an estimated 28 million people and accounting for roughly 8 percent of global fish production. 

Coastal states such as Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Gujarat—already key players in India’s seafood exports—are expected to benefit significantly from the agreement. 

With enhanced compliance to UK sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, these regions are well-positioned to scale up operations and meet evolving global benchmarks.

By enabling access to a premium, high-value market, the agreement is poised to elevate coastal incomes, enhance export revenues, and reinforce India’s reputation as a dependable supplier of sustainable, high-quality marine products.

(KNN Bureau)