India's agri export strategy shifts beyond rice and wheat: product codes rose from 298 to 438, processed share climbs. Data show how the model buffered earnings volatility.
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India's agricultural exports have moved away from a heavy reliance on rice and wheat over the past decade. The goal was to smooth out the earnings drops that followed each ban on cereal shipments when domestic food inflation spiked.
An official at the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) said the number of products exported at the HS 8-digit level rose from 298 in fiscal 2014–15 to 438 in 2025–26. New destinations and a larger share of processed goods drove the expansion.
The shift reflects a strategy to reduce the earnings volatility inherent in commodities that are politically sensitive at home. Rice exports were halted twice after the 2008 global food price spike. Wheat exports reopened only recently, with quantitative limits and export permits.
The rice trade data illustrate the fragility of the old model. In fiscal 2025–26, India shipped 21.57 million tonnes of rice, up from 20.19 million tonnes the prior year. Revenue fell to $11.54 billion from $12.47 billion because of lower unit realisations. April 2026 rice exports were 2.04 million tonnes worth $1.01 billion, compared with 1.88 million tonnes at $1.08 billion a year earlier. May rice exports of $1.02 billion were 5% above the $967 million recorded a year ago.
Basmati rice exports in April 2026 reached 474,091 tonnes valued at $436 million. For the full 2025–26 fiscal, basmati shipments totaled 6.52 million tonnes worth $5.67 billion. Non-basmati exports were 15.04 million tonnes valued at $5.86 billion.
Other commodity groups showed mixed results in May 2026. Marine products slipped to $728 million from $730 million. Spices fell to $387 million from $403 million. Fruits and vegetables declined to $288 million from $309 million. Oilseeds dropped to $94 million from $103 million. Tea exports eased to $56 million from $66 million.
Gainers included meat, dairy and poultry products, which jumped to $630 million from $442 million. Cereal preparations and miscellaneous processed items rose to $277 million from $265 million. Coffee edged up to $209 million from $201 million. Oilmeals climbed to $111 million from $89 million.
The official described the strategy as a combination of wider product coverage and new market entry. More processing at home has also contributed to the shift. The official said the approach has made India's agri export sector 'more resilient and globally competitive.' Processed and value-added goods now account for a larger share of export revenue each year, reducing the impact of any single ban.
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