Indian Food Export: Sectors | Trade Data |Top Importing Countries
Key Highlights:
- India exports a wide range of food categories: cereals, spices, marine products, dairy, and many more.
- West Asia, North America, and Southeast Asia account for the highest demand for Indian food exports.
- Marine and meat products are India’s highest-value food export segment.
- Data-oriented trade insights play a crucial role in acknowledging profitable markets and confident export growth.
Indian food exports are quickly emerging as the answer to this ever-changing global food market. One of the biggest producers of food and a major exporter is India, as its strength lies in a broad spectrum of products like cereals and grains, pulses and oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, spices and condiments, marine and meat products, dairy products, and processed packaged foods. The diverse range of products gives indian exporters a strategic edge over other global food exporters, as it is able to provide access to important as well as high-value food products.
With constant growth in the mentioned primary categories, India is soon going to imprint its footprint on the global market and will become the world’s largest food exporter in some of the major categories.
So, let’s take a closer look at the primary categories and their trade distribution, and the countries importing from India.
Cereals And Grains
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
SAUDI ARABIA |
$1,364,486,385.51 |
|
IRAN |
$990,495,792.38 |
|
IRAQ |
$872,292,295.30 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$845,055,696.89 |
|
BANGLADESH |
$790,436,041.03 |
India’s cereals and grain exports are strongly centric in West and South Asian markets. Saudi Arabia leads with $1.36 billion, followed by Iran at $990.49 million and Iraq at $872.29 million. The United Arab Emirates imports $845.50 million worth, while Bangladesh accounts for $790.43 million, reflecting strong regional trade bonds. These trade values strongly grip India’s position as a dependable supplier of key foodstuffs to high-demand markets.
Pulses And Oilseeds
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$499,390,035.90 |
|
CHINA |
$366,124,184.22 |
|
UNITED STATES |
$363,462,869.81 |
|
INDONESIA |
$335,813,397.47 |
|
BANGLADESH |
$271,278,386.45 |
India’s pulses and oilseeds export shows a dynamic global demand across Asia, the Middle East, and North America. The United Arab Emirates leads imports valued at $499.39 million, followed by China at $366.12 million and the United States at $363. 46 million, signifying strong demand in both bulk and processed sectors. Indonesia accounts for $335.81 million, while Bangladesh imports $271. 27 million worth, propped up by regional trade connectivity. These figures highlight India’s growth in high-protein agri exports across primary international markets.
Fruits And Vegetables
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$365,137,049.57 |
|
CHINA |
$256,752,229.05 |
|
BANGLADESH |
$201,140,653.16 |
|
MALAYSIA |
$150,991,531 |
|
SRI LANKA |
$141,586,305.12 |
The fruit and vegetable exports of India continue to hold a grip across Asia and the Middle East, showing well-built demand for fresh and processed stuff. The United Arab Emirates ranks higher with the import value of $365.13 million, followed by China at $256. 75 million and Bangladesh at $201. 14 million. Malaysia accounts for $150. 99 million, while Sri Lanka imports $141. 58 million, held by regional proximity and an accepted trade route. These trade values underline India’s spanning presence in the global agri-based supply chain.
Spices And Condiments
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$894,281,306.49 |
|
UNITED STATES |
$848,733,661.79 |
|
CHINA |
$665,515,593.93 |
|
ITALY |
$405,251,376.31 |
|
BANGLADESH |
$370,659,437.29 |
India's spices and condiments exports demonstrate its leadership in high-value agri-based trade across both developed and developing markets. The United Arab Emirates leads with imports valued at $894.28 million, closely followed by the United States at $848.73 million, showing strong retail and processed food demand. While China accounts for $665.51 million, Italy imports $405.25 million, driven by its large food manufacturing industry. Bangladesh rounds out the list at $370.65 million. These values strengthen India’s position as a worldwide powerhouse for the condiments and spices trade.
Marine And Meat Products
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
UNITED STATES |
$1,993,635,719.26 |
|
VIETNAM |
$1,481,041,160.27 |
|
CHINA |
$1,437,845,463.46 |
|
MALAYSIA |
$835,175,251.33 |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$749,503,999.04 |
India’s marine and meat products exports show one of its highest-demand food export sectors, drawn largely by seafood demand in the worldwide market. The United States leads with imports valued at $1.99 billion, with strong demand for processed seafood. Vietnam follows at $1.48 billion, closely touching the processing and re-export procedure, while China imports $1.43 billion, showing substantial demand for consumer and industrial usage. Malaysia stands at $835.17 million, and the United Arab Emirates imports $749.50 million. These values position India as a strong competitor in the global marine and meat trade.
Dairy Products
|
Country |
Value (USD) |
|
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES |
$230,072,275.80 |
|
UNITED STATES |
$184,127,940.62 |
|
SAUDI ARABIA |
$77,441,497.88 |
|
OMAN |
$77,262,120.13 |
|
QATAR |
$36,214,346.43 |
The export of dairy products in India reveals a consistent market in the Middle East and North America, facilitated by products like milk powder, ghee, and processed dairy products. The United Arab Emirates is an exporter with imports of $230. 70 million, followed by the United States with imports of $184. 12 million, which reveals an increasing acceptance of Indian dairy products in the developed market. Saudi Arabia is estimated at $77.44 million, roughly comparable to Oman at $77.26 million, and Qatar imports $36.21 million, which reveals India’s increasing market share in the global dairy market, particularly in Gulf business.
Conclusion
This country-wise import data clearly shows that Indian food export expansion is shaped by the real demand pattern across different demographic and product categories. Understanding this data is crucial in today`s cutthroat trade environment, as it helps exporters identify high-potential markets, track demand shifts, and make informed, calculated decisions.
Using data-oriented intel such as Ex-Im by The Dollar Business further gives strength and advantage by not just providing trade figures of a few branches of trading, but also offers wider market exposure, buyers-sellers insight, shipment trends, and competitive analysis. Worldwide, data is no longer optional: its foundation of smart and confident trade growth.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What are the primary categories in Indian food export?
Indian food export expands from cereal and grains, pulses and oilseeds, fruits and vegetables, spices and condiments, marine and meat products, dairy products, to processed packaged foods.
2. Which countries import the most cereal and grain from India?
Saudi Arabia, followed by Iran, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Bangladesh, are among the top importers of Indian cereals and grains.
3. Which food category sector generates the highest value for India?
Marine and meat products represent the highest-value sector in India’s food export.
4. Why is trade data crucial in today's trade market?
Trade data has become crucial to exporters as it helps in identifying demand patterns, analyzing presence, tracking shipment trends, and making calculated decisions.
5. How can businesses have fewer risk factors?
By using data-oriented trade intel, such as the EX-im tool, which provides buyers and sellers with insights, shipment analytics, pricing trends, and competitive market mapping.
Recent Blogs
Top 5 Products: India Exported To Brazil
Know IndiaBrazil trade the top 5 key exports imports trade surplus increase and Industry intel Datadriven keen search of international traders
The Top 10 Exporting Countries Of Copper In The Global Market
Explore copper export from India its role as a leading copper production country top copper exporting countries biggest copper exporters & growing impact
Top 5 Products India Imports From Afghanistan
What are the top 5 products under the IndiaAfghanistan trade which include Indian imports from Afghanistan and Indian exports to Afghanistan? Read more


