Farm goods exports rose over 8% to $4.2 billion in April-May 2025, led by strong rice, buffalo meat, and fruit shipments. India’s rice trade regained momentum after export curbs were lifted. Rising global demand and above-normal monsoon forecast are expected to further boost agri-exports.

Written by Sandip Das

India’s exports of agricultural and processed food products have commenced on a brisk note in the current fiscal with the shipments rising by over 8% on year to $4.16 billion in April-May.

The shipments were driven primarily by a sharp increase in exports of rice, buffalo meat and fruits and vegetables.

Rice exports, including those of basmati and non-basmati varieties, rose by over 4.7% to $ 2.04 billion in April-May, 2025-26 compared to previous year. In FY25, the rice exports were at a record $ 12.47 billion, an increase of over 20% compared to 2023-24.

However exporters fear that Israel and Iran conflict may impact the rice shipments as Iran is a major destination of India’s basmati rice.

The government started easing restrictions on rice exports in September 2024 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.

Trade sources say India’s dominance in global rice trade has been restored with a spike in shipments, especially to Africa and Southeast Asian countries. India has been the largest exporter of rice for a decade now.

With a projection of bumper harvest due to prospects of above normal monsoon rains this season, the rice output and exports is likely to rise in the current fiscal.

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 two months of the current fiscal, increased by over 16% to $0.81 billion, and fruits and vegetables by more than 16% to $0.69 billion respectively.

Officials said that in the past decade, 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) in organising the supply chain of production through approved integrated meat plants and getting these plants approved and inspected by importing countries has boosted meat exports.

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.

The exports of products under APEDA basket rose to $25.14 billion during the 2024-25, an increase of over 12% on 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.

Published Date: June 24, 2025