How do I source frozen shrimp from India for United Arab Emirates?

Write one specification first: species, farmed or wild-caught, product form, count/size, glazing, packing, annual or seasonal volume, destination port, delivery window and the certificates your buyer requires. FishMatch reviews requests for annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more, free for buyers, and approaches screened producers on your behalf — there is no direct buyer–supplier contact.

What must be verified before importing into United Arab Emirates?

Whether the origin country, the specific processing establishment and the product form are currently eligible for United Arab Emirates, which official certificates and catch or production documents each lot needs, and labelling and residue rules. Check current official listings and your customs broker; a country appearing in trade statistics does not mean any particular plant is approved.

Is there a price or transit time for this route?

No price, volume or transit time is published here because none has been verified for this route. Offers depend on size, form, glazing, packing, Incoterms, timing and exchange rates; a reviewed RFQ returns comparable offers with their dates.

How much shrimp moves on this route?

2024: Prepared shrimp (HS 160520) to the United Arab Emirates: US$18 million. Source: WITS / UN Comtrade — India 2024 exports of HS 160520 by partner (HS 1988/92). This is a historical customs value, not current demand or a supplier's capacity.

How much frozen shrimp did India export to the Middle East in FY 2025–26?

30,478 tonnes to the Middle East (regional total; no UAE-only figure is published), out of 792,647 tonnes in total (US$5,624.48 million), according to MPEDA's FY 2025–26 figures published by PIB on 1 June 2026. India's seafood exports overall were a record US$8.46 billion.

Does this figure mean there is a buyer or an order waiting?

No. It is national export statistics: evidence that the trade exists at scale, not a purchase order, a price or a verified buyer or supplier. FishMatch reviews each buyer request (USD 250,000 or more per year or season) and only then approaches screened producers on the buyer's behalf.

Frozen shrimp from India to United Arab Emirates: what buyers specify and verify

Short answer: Only prepared-shrimp customs data and a Middle East regional total are verified, not a frozen-shrimp figure for the UAE. UAE import rules are still under review in our register. FishMatch reviews annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more, free for buyers, and contacts screened producers for you — there is no direct buyer–supplier contact.

Partly evidenced

Start a shrimp request for this route Request checklist

Trade evidence for this route

VerifiedData year 2024
Prepared shrimp (HS 160520) to the United Arab Emirates: US$18 million.
Source: WITS / UN Comtrade — India 2024 exports of HS 160520 by partner (HS 1988/92) (read 23 October 2026)
VerifiedData year FY 2024–25
Frozen shrimp to the Middle East (region): 32,784 t (MPEDA estimate).
Source: MPEDA (India) — marine products exports FY 2024–25, press release (read 23 October 2026)

Historical customs and association values, not prices, current demand or any supplier's capacity. No prices, transit times or certificates are claimed for this route.

Market evidence — not a purchase orderLast verified 25 October 2026

Trade opportunity: Indian frozen shrimp to the Middle East (region), FY 2025–26

India exported 1,972,018 t of seafood worth US$8.46 billion in FY 2025–26 (April 2025–March 2026), a record. Frozen shrimp earned US$5,624.48 million from 792,647 t — 66.52% of dollar earnings.

Frozen shrimp to the Middle East (region): 30,478 t
All seafood to the Middle East (region): 76,743 t · US$283 million

Middle East regional figures — the release gives no UAE-only number, so the UAE share is unknown.

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.

What this does and does not show. These are national export statistics: evidence that this 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 describes a buyer or producer as verified after its own review, and never on this page.

What to specify for this opportunity

Species and origin: Penaeus vannamei or P. monodon (black tiger), farmed in India; the release reports growth for both species. Name the Indian state of farming if it matters to your market.
Count / size: Count per lb or per kg (for example 16/20, 21/25, 26/30, 31/40 per lb), and whether count is measured before or after de-glazing.
Processing: HOSO, HLSO, PD, PUD, PDTO, easy-peel, cooked or breaded; IQF, semi-IQF or block; additive policy (phosphates, sulphites).
Glazing: Glaze percentage and the net-weight basis for price; ask for de-glazed net weight on carton and invoice.
Packaging: Inner pack (bag or box), master carton, net weight per unit, labels in the destination language and any private label.
Season and stock: The release gives no crop calendar. Ask whether the lot is current-crop or cold-store stock, and its production date.
Cold chain and logistics: Frozen at not more than −18 °C, reefer set-point and loggers, port of loading (the top export ports were Visakhapatnam, JNPT and Kochi) and Incoterm.
Certifications and import checks: Destination plant eligibility (EU list, China registration), health certificate, residue testing and any third-party certification your customer requires — as documents to check, not assumed.

Unknowns — not answered by the official figures

Prices, offer levels and exchange-rate effects (the release reports values, not prices).
Which exporters or plants supplied the volumes, and their current capacity or stock.
Split by species (vannamei vs black tiger), product form or count for each market.
Crop calendar and harvest windows by Indian state.
Current duty, tariff or inspection status for a specific exporter or lot.
Whether any particular buyer in the destination is currently purchasing.

Risks to price in

Only a Middle East regional total is published, so demand in the UAE itself is not evidenced by these figures. UAE import rules are still under review in our register. (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)
Specification drift: count, form and chemical-use policy must be identical across offers or they cannot be compared. (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, count, form, glaze, packing and chemical-use policy.
Volume per container, number of containers and delivery window.
Documents and tests your market requires, and who pays for pre-shipment testing.
Payment terms you can offer and the quote validity you need.

Free for buyers. FishMatch reviews each request by hand and contacts screened producers for you; buyers and suppliers are not put in direct contact.

Request offers for this route Shrimp count sizes

Also in: العربية · 日本語

Other India FY 2025–26 routes: United States · China · European Union · Japan

Product on this route

Species and production: Penaeus vannamei (farmed)
Candidate HS headings: 0306.17 (raw); 1605.21 / 1605.29 (prepared) — confirm classification with your customs broker. Historical trade tables use the older code 030613 for all frozen shrimp and prawns.
Raw frozen forms commonly specified: HLSO, PD — a starting list, not evidence that any producer can supply them.
Prepared / value-added: Cooked and prepared

Likely buyer types

Importers · Wholesalers and distributors · Retail seafood procurement · Foodservice procurement · Processors and re-packers

FishMatch guidance from the product forms on this route; not evidence of named buyers or buying relationships.

United Arab Emirates import rules

Official import rules for United Arab Emirates have not been verified on this page yet; our regulation register marks them for review. Every request is checked before any producer is approached.

Current eligibility of the origin country, the named processing establishment and the product form for United Arab Emirates.
Tariff classification, duties and importer registration — confirmed by your customs broker.

UAE buyer guide with links to the official authority.

Cold chain and logistics

Agree the reefer set-point, a data logger per container and who downloads it at discharge; reject or claim against temperature excursions in writing.
Ask for glaze percentage and net (de-glazed) weight on the carton and the invoice, then check both on arrival.
Plan cold-store capacity at the discharge port before the vessel arrives; for standalone cold storage, see ColdMatch Group.

Standalone cold storage or reefer logistics? ColdMatch Group

FAQ — India shrimp for United Arab Emirates

How do I source frozen shrimp from India for United Arab Emirates?: Write one specification first: species, farmed or wild-caught, product form, count/size, glazing, packing, annual or seasonal volume, destination port, delivery window and the certificates your buyer requires. FishMatch reviews requests for annual or seasonal programs of USD 250,000 or more, free for buyers, and approaches screened producers on your behalf — there is no direct buyer–supplier contact.
What must be verified before importing into United Arab Emirates?: Whether the origin country, the specific processing establishment and the product form are currently eligible for United Arab Emirates, which official certificates and catch or production documents each lot needs, and labelling and residue rules. Check current official listings and your customs broker; a country appearing in trade statistics does not mean any particular plant is approved.
Is there a price or transit time for this route?: No price, volume or transit time is published here because none has been verified for this route. Offers depend on size, form, glazing, packing, Incoterms, timing and exchange rates; a reviewed RFQ returns comparable offers with their dates.
How much shrimp moves on this route?: 2024: Prepared shrimp (HS 160520) to the United Arab Emirates: US$18 million. Source: WITS / UN Comtrade — India 2024 exports of HS 160520 by partner (HS 1988/92). This is a historical customs value, not current demand or a supplier's capacity.
How much frozen shrimp did India export to the Middle East in FY 2025–26?: 30,478 tonnes to the Middle East (regional total; no UAE-only figure is published), out of 792,647 tonnes in total (US$5,624.48 million), according to MPEDA's FY 2025–26 figures published by PIB on 1 June 2026. India's seafood exports overall were a record US$8.46 billion.
Does this figure mean there is a buyer or an order waiting?: No. It is national export statistics: evidence that the trade exists at scale, not a purchase order, a price or a verified buyer or supplier. FishMatch reviews each buyer request (USD 250,000 or more per year or season) and only then approaches screened producers on the buyer's behalf.

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