An agreement has been reached on a trade deal between India and the US, under which the US has announced a reduction in reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. In exchange, India will cease purchasing Russian oil and has pledged to increase the purchase of American energy, technology, agricultural products, and more. This decision has led to a surge in the Indian stock market, particularly in shares of companies exporting shrimp. Although the details of the trade agreement with the US are not yet clear.
According to the analysis by India Today's OSINT team, after the trade deal between India and the US, a surprising piece of information was revealed upon examining Google Trends data. Americans were searching more for shrimp (shrimp and prawns) compared to India's major export products like diamonds, textiles, and petroleum. Post the tariff reduction announcement, Americans have shown the most interest in this small seafood delicacy.
Source: aajtak
The data indicates that whenever there were announcements to increase or decrease tariffs, search volumes for keywords like 'Shrimp' and 'Prawns' registered sharp spikes.
Shrimp Emerges as a Star Post Trade Deal
India is the second-largest producer of shrimp globally. In the financial year ending March 2025, India exported frozen shrimp worth $5 billion, with nearly 48% of it going to the US alone. While in many Bengali households it’s dismissed as 'insect', in America it graces the dinner table as a mainstay. From Louisiana stew to shrimp cocktails, over 90% of American consumption is imported from countries like India, Ecuador, and Vietnam.
Source: aajtak
India, following Ecuador, is the world's second-largest producer of shrimp. For the financial year ending March 2025, India globally exported frozen shrimp worth $5 billion, with approximately 48% of this amount going to the United States.
Market Impact of the Deal
Meanwhile, when Trump proposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods in August, exporters’ shares were under pressure. The trade delegation meetings held in December in Delhi and now the final decision of 18% tariffs changed the scenario. Coastal Corporation and other seafood companies saw a strong recovery as soon as this news was released on Monday.
Data also shows that during festivals like Thanksgiving and Christmas, shrimp demand peaks and now benefits from lower tariffs.
Source: aajtak
What India Exports to the US
Major exports from India to the US include textiles, smartphones, gems, jewelry, and auto parts. Interestingly, some categories like pharmaceuticals, smartphones, and energy products are already tariff-exempt. But the deal could be a boon for the shrimp industry, as the reduction in tariffs indicates lower prices for Indian shrimp in the American markets. This gives Indian exporters an edge over competitors like Ecuador.
