India's shrimp industry has undergone significant growth over the last five years, strengthening its position as one of the country's most important aquaculture sectors and a major contributor to seafood exports. Production trends between 2021–22 and 2025–26 indicate continued expansion in commercial shrimp farming, led by Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei), while Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) has recorded notable long-term growth despite fluctuations in annual output. At the same time, Scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) continues to occupy a niche within India's freshwater aquaculture landscape.
The latest production data published by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) provide a comprehensive picture of how India's shrimp farming sector has evolved over the past five years. Beyond production volumes, the figures reveal the dominance of specific shrimp species, the concentration of farming activity in a few leading states, and the differing production patterns across cultured species.
Although shrimp farming is practised across several coastal and inland states, the industry continues to be driven by a relatively small number of production hubs. The latest data reinforce the importance of Andhra Pradesh in vannamei farming, West Bengal in Black Tiger shrimp culture, and Telangana's contribution to Scampi production. Together, these trends highlight both the scale and diversity of India's shrimp farming sector.
Vannamei Shrimp Continues to Anchor India's Shrimp Farming Industry
Among all cultured shrimp species, Pacific White Shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) continues to dominate India's commercial shrimp farming sector. Over the five-year period, production increased from 976,213 metric tonnes (MT) in 2021–22 to 1,304,779 MT in 2025–26, representing an overall growth of 33.66%.
The production trajectory reflects sustained expansion rather than isolated annual gains. Output crossed the one-million-tonne mark in 2022–23, when production reached 1,097,481 MT, before recording a marginal decline to 1,076,970 MT in 2023–24. The following two years saw production recover steadily, reaching 1,186,266 MT in 2024–25 and climbing further to a record 1,304,779 MT in 2025–26.
Despite the temporary dip in 2023–24, the overall trend remained firmly positive, with vannamei registering an average annual growth rate of approximately 7.5% over the five-year period. The consistency of this growth underlines the species' continued importance to India's shrimp farming industry.
Today, vannamei accounts for the overwhelming share of India's cultured shrimp production, making it the foundation of the country's export-oriented shrimp farming sector. No other cultured shrimp species currently approaches its production scale, reinforcing its position as the primary driver of commercial shrimp aquaculture.
Andhra Pradesh Dominates Vannamei Farming
The state-wise production figures further illustrate how concentrated vannamei farming has become in India.
Andhra Pradesh remains the country's undisputed leader, with 1,11,568 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 11,56,956 MT. The state's production far exceeds that of every other producing state, making Andhra Pradesh the centre of India's vannamei farming industry.
The scale of farming in Andhra Pradesh becomes even more evident when compared with other major producing states. Odisha, the second-largest producer, reported 7,833 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 53,628 MT. Tamil Nadu followed with 9,173 hectares under culture and 41,127 MT of production, while West Bengal recorded 5,903 hectares and 33,728 MT.
Among the remaining states, Gujarat produced 14,175 MT from 2,232 hectares, followed by Karnataka with 2,354 MT from 976 hectares. Maharashtra reported 1,474 MT from 533 hectares, while Kerala, Telangana, and Goa recorded comparatively smaller production levels of 824 MT, 320 MT, and 193 MT, respectively.
The data clearly show that while vannamei farming has expanded across several coastal states, commercial production remains heavily concentrated in Andhra Pradesh. The state's extensive area under culture, coupled with its substantially higher production volume, continues to shape India's overall shrimp production landscape.
The concentration of production also reflects the state's long-established aquaculture infrastructure, making Andhra Pradesh the largest contributor to India's cultured shrimp output during the five-year period.
Growth Beyond Numbers
The five-year production trend demonstrates more than an increase in output. It highlights the continued consolidation of vannamei as India's preferred cultured shrimp species. The ability of the sector to recover after the slight decline recorded in 2023–24 and subsequently achieve record production in 2025–26 reflects the resilience of commercial shrimp farming.
At the same time, the data indicate that production growth has been supported by a relatively stable group of producing states rather than widespread geographical expansion. Andhra Pradesh continues to dominate national production, while Odisha, Tamil Nadu, and West Bengal contribute significantly smaller but important shares to the country's overall vannamei output.
This sustained performance has reinforced vannamei's position as the backbone of India's shrimp farming industry and one of the country's most valuable aquaculture commodities.
Black Tiger Shrimp Records Strong Long-Term Growth
While vannamei continues to dominate India's shrimp farming industry in terms of production volume, Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) has demonstrated notable long-term growth over the last five years. Although annual production has fluctuated, the overall trend indicates that the species continues to hold an important place in India's aquaculture sector, particularly as a premium cultured shrimp.
Production increased from 40,504 MT in 2021–22 to 69,072 MT in 2025–26, representing an overall growth of 70.5% during the five-year period. The strongest expansion was recorded between 2021–22 and 2023–24, when production reached 85,752 MT, the highest level observed during the analysis period.
However, production declined to 67,039 MT in 2024–25 before recovering marginally to 69,072 MT in 2025–26. Despite these year-to-year fluctuations, Black Tiger shrimp has maintained a positive long-term trajectory, indicating that it continues to be an important species within India's diversified shrimp farming portfolio.
Unlike vannamei, which dominates large-scale commercial aquaculture, Black Tiger shrimp contributes a comparatively smaller share of total shrimp production. Nevertheless, the steady increase recorded over five years highlights its continued relevance in the country's shrimp farming landscape.
West Bengal Leads Black Tiger Shrimp Farming
State-wise data show a distinctly different production pattern for Black Tiger shrimp compared with vannamei.
West Bengal continues to be the country's largest Black Tiger shrimp-producing state, reporting 51,650 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 23,070 MT. The state also has the largest area under culture for the species, reflecting the continued importance of traditional shrimp farming along its coastal belt.
Andhra Pradesh ranked second with 2,811 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 10,210 MT. Although considerably smaller than West Bengal in terms of area and production, Andhra Pradesh remains an important contributor to Black Tiger shrimp farming.
Among the remaining producing states, Kerala reported 3,079 hectares under culture with an estimated production of 1,078 MT, while Tamil Nadu and Puducherry together recorded 235 hectares and 813 MT. Maharashtra produced 491 MT from 180 hectares, followed by Karnataka, which reported 367 MT from 2,200 hectares. Odisha accounted for 66 MT from 46 hectares.
According to the MPEDA data, Gujarat is also listed with 51,650 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 23,070 MT, matching the figures reported for West Bengal. As these figures are published in the official MPEDA dataset, they have been retained in this analysis.
The distribution of Black Tiger shrimp farming differs significantly from vannamei, where production is overwhelmingly concentrated in Andhra Pradesh. Instead, Black Tiger cultivation remains more closely associated with states that have traditionally cultured the species.
Scampi Continues to Support Freshwater Shrimp Farming
Although Scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) accounts for a much smaller share of India's shrimp production than vannamei or Black Tiger shrimp, it continues to contribute to freshwater aquaculture in several states.
Over the last five years, Scampi production followed a different trend from the two marine shrimp species. Unlike vannamei, which registered sustained growth, and Black Tiger shrimp, which experienced fluctuations before recovering, Scampi production remained comparatively modest during the study period.
The production data indicate that Scampi continues to occupy a specialised segment within India's aquaculture sector, supported primarily by freshwater farming systems rather than coastal shrimp aquaculture.
Telangana Leads Scampi Production
The latest state-wise figures identify Telangana as the country's largest producer of Scampi, with an estimated production of 11,657 MT. While the area under culture is marked separately in the MPEDA dataset, Telangana recorded the highest production among all reporting states.
The state's leadership highlights the contribution of inland freshwater aquaculture to Scampi production, demonstrating that shrimp farming is not limited to coastal regions alone.
West Bengal ranked second with 8,585 hectares under culture and an estimated production of 5,280 MT. Maharashtra reported 1,353 hectares and 892 MT, followed by Odisha, which recorded 1,269 hectares and 589 MT. Gujarat contributed 475 MT, while Andhra Pradesh reported 67 MT from 56 hectares under culture.
Compared with vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp, Scampi farming is distributed across fewer states and contributes significantly lower production volumes. Nevertheless, the data demonstrate that freshwater shrimp farming continues to play a role within India's broader aquaculture sector.
State-wise Production Reflects Species Specialisation
One of the most significant observations emerging from the MPEDA data is that different states have developed distinct strengths in shrimp farming.
Andhra Pradesh dominates vannamei production by a considerable margin, supported by the country's largest area under culture and the highest estimated production. The state's leadership has made it the principal contributor to India's commercial shrimp farming industry.
In contrast, West Bengal continues to be the leading state for Black Tiger shrimp cultivation, reflecting the importance of traditional shrimp farming systems in the region. The state also records the largest area under culture for the species.
Meanwhile, Telangana has established itself as the leading producer of Scampi, illustrating the role of freshwater aquaculture in expanding shrimp production beyond India's coastal states.
These state-wise differences demonstrate that India's shrimp farming sector is not driven by a single production model. Instead, different regions have specialised in species that align with their farming systems, water resources, and aquaculture practices, contributing to the overall diversity of the country's shrimp industry.
Key Industry Insights
Beyond production figures, the five-year data highlight several important characteristics of India's shrimp farming industry.
First, the sector continues to be highly concentrated around a few major producing states. Andhra Pradesh dominates commercial vannamei farming, while West Bengal remains the principal centre for Black Tiger shrimp culture. The production landscape also demonstrates that freshwater shrimp farming continues to play a role, with Telangana leading Scampi production.
Second, the data underline the growing specialization within India's shrimp farming sector. Rather than relying on a single production model, different states have developed expertise in cultivating specific shrimp species based on their available resources and farming systems.
Finally, the production trends demonstrate the resilience of India's shrimp industry. Despite year-to-year fluctuations in some species, overall shrimp production has continued to expand over the past five years, reinforcing India's position as one of the world's leading shrimp-producing nations.
An Industry Built on Exports
India's shrimp farming industry has evolved largely as an export-oriented sector. Rising production over the past five years has supported the country's position among the world's leading seafood exporters, with cultured shrimp continuing to account for a substantial share of marine export earnings.
The steady expansion of vannamei production reflects the industry's ability to meet the requirements of international markets, while the continued cultivation of Black Tiger shrimp provides additional product diversity for exporters.
However, the production trends also highlight the importance of market diversification. As production capacity continues to increase, strengthening domestic seafood consumption could complement export markets by creating additional demand within the country. A broader domestic market would not replace exports, which remain a key driver of the industry, but it could provide an additional avenue for consumption alongside international trade.
India has one of the world's largest populations, yet seafood consumption varies considerably across regions. Continued efforts to improve consumer awareness, expand retail availability, promote value-added seafood products, and strengthen cold-chain infrastructure could contribute to wider domestic acceptance of shrimp and other seafood products.
Developing a stronger domestic market may also help create a more diversified demand base for the industry while supporting long-term growth. At the same time, exports are expected to remain central to India's shrimp sector, particularly for high-volume commercial production.
The Road Ahead
India's shrimp industry has established a strong production base over the past five years, supported by the continued expansion of vannamei farming, the sustained presence of Black Tiger shrimp, and the contribution of Scampi to freshwater aquaculture. As production continues to grow, the next phase of development will depend not only on increasing output but also on strengthening the overall value chain.
Continued improvements in seed quality, feed efficiency, aquatic animal health management, processing infrastructure, cold-chain logistics, traceability, and sustainable farming practices will remain important for enhancing productivity and maintaining India's competitiveness in global seafood markets.
At the same time, India's shrimp industry continues to be largely export-oriented. While exports are expected to remain the primary driver of the sector, there is also an opportunity to strengthen domestic seafood consumption through greater consumer awareness, wider retail availability, value-added products, and improved distribution networks. A stronger domestic market can complement export demand, create additional marketing opportunities for producers, and contribute to the long-term resilience of the industry.
As India's shrimp farming sector evolves, balancing production growth with market diversification, technological advancement, and sustainable resource management will be important for ensuring continued progress in the years ahead.
Conclusion
The MPEDA production data for 2021–22 to 2025–26 provide a comprehensive snapshot of India's shrimp industry and its evolving production landscape. Over the five-year period, Pacific White Shrimp (L. vannamei) continued to dominate commercial shrimp farming, Black Tiger Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) recorded significant long-term growth despite annual fluctuations, and Scampi (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) maintained its contribution to freshwater aquaculture.
The data also highlight the distinct strengths of different states, with Andhra Pradesh leading vannamei production, West Bengal remaining a key centre for Black Tiger shrimp farming, and Telangana contributing significantly to Scampi production. Together, these trends reflect an industry that has expanded steadily while developing strong regional specialisation.
As India's aquaculture sector continues to grow, the production trends observed over the past five years provide valuable insights into the industry's current position and serve as an important benchmark for assessing future progress.
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Source: Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA). Production data presented in this article are based on MPEDA publications for 2021–22 to 2025–26. The analysis, interpretations, and editorial observations are those of the author.
