Pakistan’s seafood exports surge 35% to $125.4 million in Q1FY2026-27

Profit reported that Pakistan's seafood shipments abroad reached $125.4 million in July to September, a 34.4% gain on the same period last year. Export volumes rose faster, by 40.2%, to 61,679 metric tonnes, according to Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry, who spoke on Monday.

Across the last two years, seafood earnings have risen 74.4% from $71.9 million in the first quarter of FY25, while volumes are up 74.8% from 35,294 metric tonnes. The minister credited new overseas markets, particularly Russia, with helping the sector progress, and pointed to a record $568 million in seafood exports during FY26.

Chaudhry said that resuming shrimp shipments to the United States and reviving fishing licences within the Exclusive Economic Zone could aid the long-term management of marine resources. He also pointed to weaknesses in institutions, technical know-how and capacity that must be fixed before Pakistan can reach higher-value buyers, especially in the European Union, and called for the Fisheries Training Centre of the Marine Fisheries Department to be revived to help meet international safety standards.