Market evidence — not a purchase orderLast verified 26 October 2026
Frozen cuttlefish from India: FY 2025–26 trade evidence and what buyers specify
India exported 67,157 t of frozen cuttlefish worth US$331.96 million in FY 2025–26, up 13.32% in volume and 16.25% in US$ (MPEDA). That is market evidence, not an order: lock species, cut, size, glaze and catch documents before asking for offers.
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Trade evidence, FY 2025–26
- Frozen cuttlefish exports
- 67,157 t
- Value
- US$331.96 million
- Change on previous year
- +13.32% volume · +16.25% US$
India exported 1,972,018 t of seafood worth US$8.46 billion in FY 2025–26 (April 2025–March 2026), a record. Frozen squid (US$513.84 million) and frozen cuttlefish (US$331.96 million) were reported as separate lines after frozen shrimp, frozen fish and dried seafood.
Source: PIB / MPEDA — India's seafood exports reach record US$8.46 billion in FY 2025–26 (Ministry of Commerce & Industry), published 1 June 2026, read 25 October 2026.
Where India's frozen squid and cuttlefish went in 2025
The release gives no destination split for cuttlefish. The closest official figure is India-reported customs data under HS 030743, which combines frozen cuttlefish and squid: US$803.2 million and 165,889 t in calendar 2025. EU members in this list took US$411.17 million (about 51%).
| Destination | Value | Share | Net weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain (EU) | US$184.65 million | 23% | 35,566 t |
| Thailand | US$150.78 million | 18.8% | 29,391 t |
| Italy (EU) | US$125.41 million | 15.6% | 22,936 t |
| China | US$64.91 million | 8.1% | 20,402 t |
| Viet Nam | US$53.31 million | 6.6% | 12,672 t |
| Malaysia | US$51.64 million | 6.4% | 10,782 t |
| Greece (EU) | US$43.29 million | 5.4% | 8,219 t |
| Portugal (EU) | US$33.36 million | 4.2% | 7,633 t |
| United States | US$25.16 million | 3.1% | 3,864 t |
| France (EU) | US$15.21 million | 1.9% | 3,462 t |
| Japan | US$9.29 million | 1.2% | 958 t |
| Belgium (EU) | US$9.25 million | 1.2% | 2,052 t |
Source: UN Comtrade — India-reported exports, HS 030743 (frozen cuttlefish and squid), calendar 2025, read 26 October 2026. Calendar year, not the April–March financial year above; FOB values reported by India.
What to specify
- Species
- The scientific name you accept (for example Sepia pharaonis or another Sepia species). The release does not split exports by species, so name it in the specification.
- Product form
- Whole round, whole cleaned (bone, ink sac, eyes and beak removed), fillets, or scored or flower cuts; skin on or off.
- Size
- Pieces per kg or grams per piece for whole and cleaned cuttlefish; fillet weight band for fillets; state whether size is measured before or after cleaning and de-glazing.
- Production method
- Treat Indian cuttlefish as wild-caught unless the documents show otherwise, and ask for the catch details: FAO fishing area (51 Western Indian Ocean or 57 Eastern Indian Ocean), vessel or landing centre, and catch dates.
- Glazing and net weight
- Glaze percentage and the net-weight basis for price; ask for de-glazed net weight on carton and invoice.
- Additives and water retention
- State your policy on soaking agents and phosphates, and whether you need a moisture or additive declaration per lot.
- Freezing and packaging
- IQF, IWP (individually wrapped) or block frozen; inner pack, master carton, net weight per unit, labels in the destination language and any private label.
- Season and stock
- The release gives no catch calendar. Ask whether the lot is current-season catch or cold-store stock, its catch and production dates, and how India's annual monsoon fishing bans on each coast affect the delivery window.
- Cold chain and logistics
- Frozen at not more than −18 °C, reefer set-point and data loggers, port of loading (the top seafood export ports were Visakhapatnam, JNPT and Kochi) and Incoterm.
- Certifications and import checks
- Destination plant eligibility (EU list, China registration), health certificate, IUU catch certificate for the EU, and any third-party certification your customer requires — documents to check, not assumed.
FishMatch buyer guidance — a list of points to state, not evidence that any producer can supply them. Fishing areas: FAO major fishing areas for statistical purposes (FAO CWP).
Product forms compared
| Form | What it is | Specify |
|---|---|---|
| Whole round | Ungutted, cuttlebone in | Pieces per kg, block or IQF, freshness on arrival |
| Whole cleaned | Bone, ink sac, eyes and beak removed | Cleaning standard, skin on/off, yield basis |
| Fillets | Mantle flesh only | Fillet weight band, trimming, IQF or IWP |
| Scored / flower cut | Cut for food service | Cut pattern, piece size, additive policy |
Import checks in the main markets
Summaries of the official rules, read 21 October 2026. Not legal advice; rules change. Thailand, Viet Nam and Malaysia rules have not been verified on this page; every request is checked before any producer is approached.
European Union
European Commission (DG SANTE) and the border control post of the member state of entry
Eligibility: The exporting country must be authorised for fishery products, and the producing establishment (farm-to-plant chain, processing plant, freezer or factory vessel) must be on the EU list of authorised non-EU establishments.
Certificates: The official health certificate model for the product, signed by the exporting country's competent authority. A catch certificate under the IUU Regulation is needed for wild-caught fishery products; aquaculture products obtained from fry or larvae are outside its scope.
Traceability: Traceability one step back and one step forward for food business operators; establishment approval numbers must match across certificate, labels and documents.
China
General Administration of Customs of China (GACC)
Eligibility: The country and product must be on GACC's access directory (quarantine access applies to chilled and frozen aquatic products), and overseas producers of aquatic products must be registered with GACC after recommendation by their own country's competent authority (GACC Decree 280, in force since 1 June 2026, which replaced Decree 248; checked 25 Oct 2026).
Certificates: GACC access announcements require a health certificate confirmed by both authorities for each consignment (e.g. Announcement 2026 No. 43); check the current protocol for your origin and product.
Traceability: Registered producers must mark the Chinese registration number, or the number approved by their own competent authority, on the packaging (Decree 280, Art. 14); aquatic products also need Chinese-and-English markings on inner and outer packaging (Decree 249, Art. 30). Keep lot records that match.
Japan
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare (MHLW) quarantine stations
Eligibility: Imported food must comply with the Food Sanitation Act; inspectors review documents and decide whether the consignment needs testing.
Certificates: Whether an official certificate is needed depends on the product and origin; confirm with the quarantine station before shipping.
Traceability: Keep lot-level records that match the notification; inspectors may sample for residues and additives.
United States
US Food and Drug Administration (FDA); NOAA Fisheries for the Seafood Import Monitoring Program
Eligibility: There is no EU-style list of approved foreign plants. Foreign facilities that process food for US consumption must register with FDA, and processors must meet FDA seafood HACCP (21 CFR Part 123), and importers must take affirmative steps to verify that their suppliers comply.
Certificates: The rules linked here do not set one per-consignment health certificate for all seafood; ask your customs broker whether your product or buyer requires one.
Traceability: Check NOAA's current list of products under the Seafood Import Monitoring Program and FDA's Food Traceability List for your exact product before contracting; this page does not state that squid or cuttlefish are covered.
Unknowns — not answered by the official figures
- Destinations for squid and for cuttlefish separately — the MPEDA release gives national totals only, and HS 030743 combines both products.
- Prices, offer levels and exchange-rate effects (the figures are declared values, not prices).
- Which exporters or plants supplied the volumes, and their current capacity or stock.
- Split by species, product form or size for any market.
- Current duty, inspection or eligibility status for a specific exporter or lot.
- Whether any particular buyer in the destination is currently purchasing.
Risks to price in
- Wild-caught product for the EU needs a validated IUU catch certificate for each consignment; missing or mismatched catch data stops clearance. (FishMatch buyer guidance)
- Species substitution and mixed lots: require the scientific name on the specification, health certificate and labels, and agree what happens if a lot is found mixed. (FishMatch buyer guidance)
- HS 030743 covers both cuttlefish and squid, so destination trade tables cannot show demand for one product alone. Confirm the national tariff subheading with your customs broker. (FishMatch buyer guidance)
- Glaze and weight disputes: price on net de-glazed weight and check glaze percentage on arrival. (FishMatch buyer guidance)
- Cold-chain excursions: agree reefer set-point, data loggers and a written claim process before shipment. (FishMatch buyer guidance)
Qualification checklist before we contact producers
- Annual or seasonal program value of USD 250,000 or more.
- Importer of record, destination country and port of entry named.
- One written specification covering species, form, size, glaze, packing and additive policy.
- Volume per container, number of containers and delivery window.
- Catch documents, health certificate and tests your market requires, and who pays for pre-shipment testing.
- Payment terms you can offer and the quote validity you need.
The form opens with cuttlefish, India and frozen filled in. A person reviews every request; buyers and producers stay confidential to each other. FishMatch coordinates sourcing and does not produce, certify, inspect or guarantee products.
FAQ — frozen cuttlefish from India
- How much frozen cuttlefish did India export in FY 2025–26?
- India exported 67,157 t of frozen cuttlefish worth US$331.96 million in FY 2025–26 (April 2025–March 2026), according to MPEDA figures published by PIB on 1 June 2026. Volume rose 13.32% and US$ value 16.25% on the previous year. Total seafood exports were a record US$8.46 billion.
- Where does Indian frozen cuttlefish go?
- The MPEDA release has no destination split for squid or cuttlefish. India-reported UN Comtrade data for calendar 2025 under HS 030743 (frozen cuttlefish and squid together, US$803.2 million) puts Spain (23%), Thailand (18.8%) and Italy (15.6%) first; EU members in the top twelve took about 51%. These are historical values, not current orders.
- Is this a confirmed cuttlefish order or a verified supplier?
- No. These are national export statistics showing that the trade exists at scale. They are not a purchase order, a price, current availability or proof that any named buyer or supplier is active or verified. FishMatch only calls a buyer or producer verified after its own review, and never on this page.
- How do I request Indian frozen cuttlefish offers?
- Send one written specification through the free buyer request form. FishMatch reviews annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more by hand and contacts screened producers for you; buyers and producers are not put in direct contact, and nothing is sent automatically.