US tariff impact: Andhra shrimp export losses hit ₹25,000 Cr; CM Naidu sends SOS to Centre

Amaravati :US tariffs have dealt a death blow to Andhra Pradesh’s shrimp exports, with losses pegged at ₹25,000 crore.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said about 50% of export orders have been canceled. Nearly ₹600 crore in tariff burden has fallen on 2,000 shrimp containers ready to be shipped.

The CM noted that the state government has already initiated relief measures to offset some losses. For example, aqua feed MRPs have been reduced by ₹9 per kg, and subsidised supply of transformers is also being considered.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu also appealed to the Centre to support aqua farmers in Andhra Pradesh who are facing severe distress due to US tariffs.

CM Naidu has written to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, and Fisheries Minister Rajeev Ranjan Singh, requesting measures to increase domestic consumption of aqua products.

He requested the Finance Minister to look into issues such as GST and financial relief. He urged the Commerce & Industry Minister to pursue agreements with other countries. Naidu appealed to the Fisheries Minister to focus on expanding the domestic market.

The CM pointed out that aqua farmers and families in Andhra Pradesh are facing severe hardships.

Andhra Pradesh accounts for 80% of the country’s shrimp exports and 34% of marine exports. Andhra exports marine products worth ₹21,246 crore annually. About 2.5 lakh aqua farmer families and 30 lakh people are dependent on allied sectors.

Moratorium on Aqua Loan Interest

The CM emphasized that, along with state government support, central assistance is essential to sustain aqua farmers. He requested bank support for exporters and aqua companies, including a 240-day moratorium on loan and interest repayments, interest subsidies, and a temporary waiver of the 5% GST on frozen shrimp.

In addition, he urged the Centre to focus on diversifying export markets beyond the US. He suggested entering into Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with the European Union, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Russia to boost exports. The CM also sought interim financial support for exporters, clarity on tariff/tax relief schemes, and noted that exporters were ready to supply seafood to the EU.

Dedicated Trains for Aqua Product Transport

The CM stressed the need to expand the domestic aqua market. He requested a ₹100 crore corpus fund, establishment of cold storages, hygienic fish and seafood markets, and said that the State Government is ready to set up the Andhra Pradesh Shrimp Producers Coordination Committee to facilitate direct farmer-to-market supply chains.

He also called for awareness campaigns to promote seafood consumption, pointing out that aqua products are rich in protein and highly nutritious. At present, per capita seafood consumption in India is only 12–13 kg per year, compared to the global average of 20–30 kg. Increasing seafood consumption would not only improve public health but also provide crucial support to aqua farmers, the CM said.

To improve transportation, he requested the Centre to run dedicated trains for shipping aqua products from South India to various parts of the country. He also urged that fishermen be provided one-time top-up loans of ₹1 lakh under Kisan Credit Cards, and that processing, packaging, and cold-chain facilities be strengthened through FIDF to enhance competitiveness in new markets.

The CM also requested that the regional offices of research institutions such as ICAR-CIBA and ICAR-NBFGR be established in Andhra Pradesh