Farm & processed food exports up 10% in April-August
By Sandip Das
India’s exports of agricultural and processed food products have continued at a brisk pace in the current fiscal year, with shipments rising by close to 10% on year to $10.03 billion in April-August, 2025-26.
The rise in shipments was driven primarily by a sharp increase in exports of rice, buffalo meat, fruits and vegetables.
Rice leads the surge
Rice exports including basmati and non-basmati varieties, rose by over 6.4% on year to $ 4.71 billion during the April-August period. In FY25, rice exports were at a record $ 12.47 billion, an increase of over 20% compared to 2023-24.
However there has been a fear amongst basmati rice exporters on the shipment prospects to the high value market like the US, as the new higher tariff regime has come into effect last month.
Meanwhile, with Bangladesh commencing rice imports, India’s shipment of the grain during the current fiscal year are likely to be higher than in FY25.
“There is a robust demand for Indian rice globally, and exports are expected to rise in the coming months as lower stock levels in competing countries like Myanmar and Pakistan have shifted global buyers interest towards India,” Ranjit Singh Jossan, vice president, the Basmati Rice Millers and Exporters Association, Punjab, told FE.
India has been the largest exporter of rice for a decade now and currently has a share of over 40% in the global grain trade. Global rice trade for 2026 is projected at 62 million tonne (MT).
Meat, fruits and vegetables boost exports
According to data provided by the Directorate General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, the shipment of buffalo meat, dairy and poultry products in the first five months of FY26, increased sharply by over 20% to $2.17 billion.
Officials said there has been a rise in demand for the Indian bovine meat across the globe due to its quality and nutrient value.
India has emerged as the second biggest exporter of buffalo meat and the export destinations are Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.
The Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) coordinates boneless buffalo meat exports through approved integrated meat plants and these plants are inspected by importing countries.
The exports of fruits and vegetables during April-August period of FY26 rose by 10% to $1.55 billion on year. Only shipment of cashew declined by 6% during the first five months of the current fiscal to $ 100 million a year.
The share of exports of products under the APEDA basket is around 51% in the total shipments of agricultural produce. The rest of the agricultural product exports include marine, tobacco, coffee, and tea.
In September, 2024, the government started easing restrictions on rice shipments on prospects of bumper output and significantly higher stocks, around a year after they were imposed. It has since removed all export restrictions, including the minimum export price, on rice shipments.
Officials said that there has been rising demand for several agricultural products such as bananas, mangoes, processed fruits and juices, fruits and vegetables seeds and processed vegetables across the world.
This article has been republished from The Financial Express.