Bhubaneswar: The ongoing war and unrest in the Middle East have affected Odisha’s seafood exports to the region, causing exporters an estimated loss of Rs 23.40 crore, Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokula Nanda Mallik informed the Odisha Assembly today.

Replying to a question from MLA Pratap Keshari Deb, the minister said seafood exports from Odisha to Middle Eastern countries declined during the April-August period of the 2025-26 financial year.

According to the data presented in the Assembly, the value of Odisha’s seafood exports to Middle Eastern countries fell by 14.57% during the period. Exports worth Rs 160.57 crore were recorded during the corresponding period of the previous year, while the figure declined to Rs 137.17 crore in 2025-26.

Despite the decline in exports to the Middle East, Odisha recorded growth in its overall seafood exports to global markets. The state’s total seafood exports increased by 16.36%, with the export value rising by Rs 763.94 crore compared to the previous year.

During 2025-26, Odisha exported 1,00,864 metric tonnes of seafood, valued at Rs 5,431.95 crore, the minister said.

Frozen shrimp continued to account for the largest share of the state’s seafood exports. Frozen shrimp exports alone were valued at around Rs 5,409.92 crore during 2025-26. Other major seafood products exported from Odisha include frozen fish, cuttlefish and dried seafood items.

The figures indicate that while geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have affected Odisha’s seafood trade with the region, exporters have continued to expand their presence in other international markets.