ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s exports of fish and fish preparations reached a record $568 million in the fiscal year 2025-26, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry said on Thursday, crediting the government’s efforts to strengthen the blue economy and meet international food safety and quality standards.
The figure takes the sector past the $500 million mark that Pakistan has pursued for long, surpassing the previous record of $496 million set in 2022-23. Fisheries remain a small share of Pakistan’s overall exports, but the government has identified the blue economy as a growth priority as it seeks export-led recovery from a prolonged economic crisis.
In a statement, the minister said frozen fish remained the leading export commodity with earnings of $105.09 million, followed by frozen squid and cuttlefish at $103.71 million, fish meal at $83.12 million, shrimps at $62.14 million and 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 minced fish meat, or surimi, at $14.63 million rounded out the top ten.
“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,” the information ministry said.
Chaudhry said the record performance had been achieved despite disruptions to regional trade and maritime logistics caused by the US-Iran war in the Middle East. He said this underscored the resilience of the fisheries sector and the commitment of Pakistani exporters and regulatory institutions.
He credited Dr. Mansoor Ali Wassan and the Marine Fisheries Department with maintaining international standards, strengthening regulatory oversight and facilitating access to export markets. He also said a performance review ceremony would be held soon at which the prime minister would present certificates of appreciation to the top ten fisheries exporters.
Pakistan’s seafood exports have fluctuated in recent years amid international market restrictions, overfishing and raw material shortages that have reportedly left many processing plants operating well below capacity.
The maritime affairs ministry had reported seafood exports of $489.2 million for the fiscal year 2024-25, while Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data later put the figure for the same year at $465.4 million.
