India's Farm Exports: 2025-26 Overview
India's agricultural exports grew by 2.3% in 2025-26, despite high tariffs imposed by the US. The total value reached $53.1 billion, up from $52 billion in the previous year. This increase surpassed the overall merchandise export growth of 0.9%.
Impact of US Tariffs
- US tariffs, effective from August 7, were initially 25%, raised to 50%, then reduced to 18% and 10% in February.
- Key exports to the US affected included:
- Pharmaceuticals: fell from $9.7 billion to $8.6 billion
- Readymade garments: declined from $5.3 billion to $4.8 billion
- Gold and jewellery: dropped from $4.2 billion to $2.8 billion
- Leather products: reduced from $948.5 million to $887.7 million
Agricultural Export Highlights
Despite US tariff challenges, some agricultural exports achieved record levels:
- Marine Products: Increased by 13.9% to over $8.4 billion.
- Buffalo Meat: Surpassed previous records, reaching $5.1 billion with a 25.6% increase.
- Coffee: Exports hit over $2 billion, driven by high global prices and low stock levels.
Market Diversification
- Marine products exports increased notably to countries such as China, Vietnam, Japan, and Belgium.
- Buffalo meat saw significant upticks in exports to Vietnam, Egypt, and Malaysia.
Other Agricultural Exports
- Rice, spices, tobacco, and processed fruits & vegetables exports decreased compared to previous highs.
Agri Imports
- Vegetable oils stood as the top import, with 169.4 lt in 2025-26.
- Fresh fruits imports were valued over $3.5 billion, primarily from the US.
- Raw cotton imports surged due to domestic production shortfalls.
Narrowing Surplus
The trade surplus (exports minus imports) has narrowed from $27.7 billion in 2013-14 to $12.7 billion in 2025-16, indicating a declining trend in surplus amidst rising imports.
