India’s Agri Exports Off to a Flying Start in FY26, Driven by Soaring Rice and Meat Shipments
India’s agricultural exports surged to \$5.96 billion in Q1 FY26, growing 7% year-on-year, led by strong rice, buffalo meat, and fruit and vegetable shipments. Rice alone contributed \$2.9 billion, reaffirming India’s global dominance. Eased export curbs and rising global demand boosted momentum. Buffalo meat exports rose 17%, while fruits and vegetables climbed 13%, reflecting strong overseas appetite for Indian produce.
India’s agricultural and processed food exports have picked up strong momentum in the first quarter of the fiscal year 2025-26, clocking a 7% year-on-year growth to reach $5.96 billion between April and June 2025. This surge comes on the back of robust overseas demand for Indian rice, buffalo meat, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
At the heart of this growth story lies rice. In the April-June period, rice shipments, including both basmati and non-basmati varieties, brought in over $2.9 billion, marking a 3.5% rise compared to the same period last year. For the full financial year 2024-25, rice exports had already hit a record $12.47 billion, a whopping 20% jump over FY24.
Industry insiders see this as a reaffirmation of India’s dominance in the global rice market. Global buyers are turning to India due to depleted stocks in other major suppliers like Myanmar and Pakistan. India, the world’s largest rice exporter for over a decade, now controls more than 40% of the global rice trade. Exporters are optimistic that this share will grow even further.
A major policy shift last September has also played a key role. The government, anticipating a bumper harvest and comfortable stock levels, began rolling back export restrictions imposed a year earlier. Now, with all curbs lifted, including the minimum export price, rice shipments are flowing freely again.
Beyond rice, other agri-commodities have also seen impressive growth. Exports of buffalo meat, dairy, and poultry products surged by over 17% to touch $1.18 billion in Q1 of FY26. Similarly, the export of fruits and vegetables grew by 13%, reaching $950 million during the same period.
Indian buffalo meat, in particular, continues to gain popularity in global markets. Known for its lean quality and nutritional value, it has found favour in countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Egypt, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. India now ranks as the world’s second-largest exporter of buffalo meat. These exports are coordinated by the Agricultural & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), which oversees approved integrated meat processing plants that are regularly audited by foreign importers.
Officials are upbeat about the prospects. There’s a growing appetite globally for a variety of Indian agricultural goods – ranging from bananas, mangoes, and processed juices to vegetable seeds and frozen produce.
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Source : Rural Voice
