India's agricultural export growth slows despite rising total value
Agricultural exports rose eight-fold to $54.0 billion by 2025, but the pace of growth has weakened significantly since 2013.
India's agricultural exports increased from $6.6 billion in 1997 to $54.0 billion in 2025, according to a report by Telangana Today. While total exports grew eight-fold, imports rose 17-fold from $2.1 billion to $36.2 billion during the same period.
The growth rate of exports has slowed considerably. Between 2007 and 2013, exports grew by 19.4 per cent annually, but this dropped to 2.4 per cent per year since 2013. Exports fell in nine of the 28 years recorded.
The share of processed food in agricultural exports rose from 4.3 per cent in 1997 to 15.1 per cent in 2025. However, the value of processed exports fell from $10.3 billion in 2022 to $8.1 billion in 2025, even as total exports reached a record level.
India is diversifying its markets, now selling to 208 destinations compared to 174 in 1997. The United States, UAE, and Saudi Arabia remain among the top five markets in 2025. China rose to the third largest market, while Vietnam moved to fourth.
Growth in new markets has been driven largely by bulk commodities. For example, exports to Iraq grew 310-fold on rice and meat, while Vietnam saw 74-fold growth on buffalo meat and fish.