Pakistan’s seafood exports reached a record $570 million in fiscal year 2025-26 as access to EU markets helped restore international confidence.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s fish and fishery product exports reached a record value of around $570 million in fiscal year 2025-26, highlighting growing international demand and renewed confidence in the country’s seafood industry.
The milestone has been supported by the return of Pakistani fishery products to European Union markets, where their availability on store shelves has helped rebuild the reputation of Pakistani seafood among international buyers and brands.
The Marine Fisheries Department has identified significant potential for further growth by shifting exports from raw products toward value-added fishery items. According to the department, increased investment in processing, packaging and product development could potentially raise Pakistan’s annual seafood export earnings by as much as $3 billion.
Pakistan’s seafood industry has faced major challenges in accessing international markets. The European Union imposed a ban on Pakistani fishery imports in 2007. Access was partially restored in 2013, when four Pakistani companies were allowed to export to the bloc.
Since then, sustained efforts to improve quality standards, safety controls and compliance have gradually supported the industry’s return to European markets.
Officials view the latest export figures as evidence that international confidence in Pakistan’s seafood sector is strengthening. They have emphasized the need to make greater use of the country’s marine resources by developing higher-value products instead of relying mainly on raw commodity exports.
The record performance also presents an opportunity to attract investment in modern seafood processing facilities, expand Pakistan’s presence in international markets and increase foreign exchange earnings from the fisheries sector.
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