Pakistan earned $125.4 million from seafood exports in the first quarter of this fiscal year. That’s up from $93.28 million in the same period last year. The value rose by about 34%.
Export volume also grew. Pakistan shipped 61,679 metric tons of fish and seafood between July and September 2026. A year earlier, the figure stood at 43,995 metric tons. That’s a rise of nearly 40%.
Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Muhammad Junaid Anwar Chaudhry shared the numbers. He said new export markets helped push up the growth. Russia is one of them.
Pakistan can now sell seafood to Russia. Russian authorities approved 16 Pakistani processing plants for export earlier this year. Officials expect this market alone to bring in close to $300 million a year once trade builds up.
The United States also resumed buying Pakistani shrimp during this period. The government is now working to widen access to the European Union market as well.
Export volume has grown fast over the past three years. It was 35,294 metric tons in the first quarter of FY2024-25. This year, it reached 61,679 metric tons. That’s a jump of nearly 75% over three years.
This growth follows a strong full year. The Maritime Affairs Ministry reported seafood exports of $568 million for FY2025-26, calling it the highest ever for the sector.
The ministry has also announced plans for a 100-acre seafood processing and export zone. It is expected to cost between $60 million and $80 million.
