India’s agricultural and processed food exports witnessed a robust 7% year-on-year growth in the first quarter of FY26 (April–June), reaching $5.96 billion. This growth was primarily driven by strong shipments of rice, meat, and fruits and vegetables. Rice exports, which include both basmati and non-basmati varieties, rose by 3.5% to $2.9 billion.
In the previous fiscal year (FY25), rice exports had already hit a record $12.47 billion, marking a 20% jump over 2023–24. India continues to dominate the global rice trade, maintaining its status as the world’s largest rice exporter for over a decade with more than 40% share in the global market.
The meat, dairy, and poultry segment showed notable momentum, growing over 17% year-on-year to $1.18 billion. Exports of fruits and vegetables also surged by 13%, totaling $0.95 billion during the April–June quarter.
Overall, exports under the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) basket touched $25.14 billion in FY25, registering a healthy 12% growth over the previous year. This segment accounted for nearly 51% of India’s total agricultural exports. The remaining share includes significant contributions from marine products, tobacco, coffee, and tea, which continue to strengthen India’s position as a major player in the global agricultural trade.
