Pakistan’s seafood exports reached a record $568 million during the fiscal year 2025-26, marking a major milestone for the country’s fisheries sector. The achievement highlights growing international demand and continued efforts to strengthen Pakistan’s blue economy.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry announced the record performance in a statement on Thursday.
He said the milestone reflects the government’s commitment to expanding seafood exports while ensuring compliance with international food safety and quality standards.
Frozen Fish Remains Pakistan’s Top Seafood Export
According to the minister, frozen fish remained Pakistan’s leading seafood export during FY26.
“Frozen fish remains the leading export commodity with earnings of $105.09mn, followed by frozen squid and cuttlefish ($103.71mn), fish meal ($83.12mn), shrimps ($62.14mn), crabs ($36.89mn), sardines ($30.62mn), mackerels ($22.67mn), flat fish ($17.24mn), octopus ($15.18mn) and minced fish meat (surimi) ($14.63mn),” he said.
The export figures demonstrate strong demand for a wide range of Pakistani seafood products in international markets.
Major Export Destinations
Pakistan exported seafood to several major global markets during the fiscal year.
According to the minister, key destinations included China, Thailand, Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Indonesia, and the United States.
These markets continued to support Pakistan’s growing seafood industry despite challenging regional conditions.
Record Achieved Despite Regional Challenges
The minister said the fisheries sector maintained strong export performance despite disruptions affecting regional trade and maritime logistics.
“The record performance had been achieved despite disruptions to regional trade and maritime logistics caused by the evolving situation in the Gulf region, underscoring the resilience of the fisheries sector and the commitment of exporters and regulatory institutions,” Chaudhry said.
The achievement highlights the sector’s ability to sustain exports even during periods of uncertainty.
Government Plans to Strengthen Fisheries Sector
The government plans to continue supporting the fisheries industry through several initiatives.
According to the minister, authorities remain committed to improving quality assurance systems, expanding export destinations, promoting value-added products, and increasing the global competitiveness of Pakistan’s seafood industry.
He also announced that leading exporters will receive official recognition.
“A performance review ceremony will be held soon to recognise the top 10 fisheries exporters with certificates of appreciation to be presented by the prime minister،” he added.
Seafood Exports Show Continued Growth
Pakistan’s seafood exports have experienced fluctuating performance over recent years. However, the industry has continued to post significant gains despite challenges such as international trade restrictions, overfishing, and raw material shortages.
Earlier export figures showed seafood exports reaching $489.2 million, reflecting a 20.5 percent increase over the previous year’s $406 million. Export volume also climbed to a record 242,484 metric tons, making it the second-highest export value on record.
Later figures for the same fiscal period showed exports closing at $465.4 million, representing an 11.44 percent year-on-year increase, while export volume reached 216,350 metric tons. Although the industry did not achieve the $500 million target during that period, the latest FY26 performance has now established a new record for Pakistan’s seafood exports.
