Taninthayi Region Earns US$287.971M from Seafood Exports in FY 2025-2026

Taninthayi Re­gion, which is home to more than 800 is­lands, earned US$287.971 million from seafood ex­ports in the 2025-2026 financial year, according to the Taninthayi Region Fisheries Federation.

Fishing vessels op­erating in Dawei, Myeik, Kawthoung and Bokpyin districts include 1,311 offshore fishing vessels and 63 trawlers, as well as 4,195 inshore fishing vessels and 395 fish car­rier vessels. These ves­sels catch fish and shrimp from the sea for export and domestic consump­tion, contributing to na­tional food security and foreign exchange earn­ings.

During the 2025-2026 financial year, the region exported 242,725.475 tonnes of fish and shrimp, earning US$287.971 mil­lion. However, foreign ex­change earnings declined slightly compared with the previous financial year due to global fuel supply difficulties and re­duced overseas demand for seafood products. In the 2024-2025 financial year, seafood exports generated US$303.628 million.

“Foreign exchange earnings declined slight­ly compared with last year because of global fuel conditions and a slight drop in seafood purchase prices in for­eign markets. As we are a country with readily available raw materials, efforts are being made to produce value-added seafood products to pre­vent a decline in foreign exchange earnings. The establishment of a major seafood production zone in Taninthayi Region would certainly increase foreign exchange earn­ings and further expand the region’s economic opportunities,” said U Thet Soe, Secretary of the Taninthayi Region Fisheries Federation.

Seafood export earn­ings from Taninthayi Re­gion stood at US$312.525 million in the 2020-2021 financial year, US$272.026 million in 2021-2022, US$232.189 million in 2022-2023 and US$253.355 million in 2023-2024. For­eign exchange earnings from the seafood export sector have fluctuated from year to year due to changes in global fuel prices and the interna­tional political situation.

The Taninthayi Re­gion Fisheries Federation and related organizations are also making efforts to promote the produc­tion of value-added fish and shrimp products as a means of increasing for­eign exchange earnings. — Nyein Thu (MNA)/ST