Last Updated on June 17, 2026 2:01 pm by BIZNAMA NEWS
Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
India’s agricultural export sector has shown remarkable growth and resilience, nearly doubling its product diversity over the last decade. Speaking on the sector’s trajectory, Abhishek Dev, Chairman of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), highlighted that India’s agricultural export basket has expanded from roughly 280 products a decade ago to nearly 500 products today. Out of a total of 790 scheduled products under APEDA, India actively ships a vast majority to international markets.
This milestone comes despite intense competition from major global agricultural heavyweights, including the United States, Brazil, China, and the European Union.
Diversification Beyond Rice and Spices
According to Mr. Dev, India’s agricultural and processed food exports touched $53 billion in the last financial year, maintaining the nation’s steady position among the world’s top ten agricultural exporting countries.
A major driver of this sustained momentum is the aggressive diversification of the country’s export profile. Moving past historical reliance on staple commodities like rice and spices, India has scaled up its shipments of alternative and high-value agricultural items. These now include:
- Pulses and cocoa products
- Fresh fruits such as pineapples, grapes, and pomegranates
- Innovative value-added products like climate-resilient, botanical-infused millets
These goods are successfully penetrating dozens of countries worldwide, backed by APEDA-driven international outreach and presence at major global trade fairs.
Fruit Shipments Lead the Charge
The expansion is highly visible in fresh produce sectors like mangoes, which have reached over 45 countries this season. Notably, mango shipments to the United States—the world’s largest mango importer—have already outpaced last year’s total volume and are on track for a 30% surge following targeted promotional campaigns across major American cities.
Securing New Global Market Access
India has also made significant breakthroughs in securing new bilateral trade channels to keep the export momentum going. Key recent market access achievements include:
- Russia: Now permitting imports of Indian potatoes and pomegranates.
- Vietnam: Granting open market access for Indian grapes.
- Australia: Approving entry for Indian pomegranates.
- New Zealand: Receiving its first-ever sea shipments of premium ready-to-cook millet functional foods.
APEDA officials project that with continued international marketing pushes and strict adherence to global quality standards, several categories—including mangoes—could see their overall export numbers double in the next one to two years.