Cereals, marine products, meat and coffee lead growth as farm shipments gain global traction

Agriculture and allied sectors emerged as key growth engines in India’s export performance in January 2026, reinforcing the sector’s rising role in the country’s external trade strategy. Data released by the Press Information Bureau show strong year-on-year expansion across several farm-linked categories, underscoring growing global demand for Indian agri produce and processed food products.

Among the standout performers, exports of other cereals surged 88.49 percent in January 2026 compared to the same month last year, reflecting both higher volumes and improved international price realization. Coffee exports recorded a robust 36.03 percent growth, while Iron Ore shipments expanded by 31.54 percent, signaling sustained demand from major commodity-importing nations.

Protein-rich categories also posted strong gains. Meat, Dairy & Poultry Products exports rose 17.92 percent year-on-year, and Marine Products grew 13.29 percent. The consistent expansion in marine exports highlights India’s strengthening aquaculture ecosystem and improved compliance with global quality standards. Exports of Fruits & Vegetables and Cereal Preparations & Miscellaneous Processed Items also registered positive growth, indicating diversification into value-added and processed segments.

For the April–January period of FY 2025–26, Non-Petroleum exports — a category that includes the bulk of agricultural and processed food shipments — increased 4.89 percent to $ 320.94 billion, compared to $ 305.98 billion in the corresponding period last year. Non-petroleum and non-gems & jewellery exports, which serve as a proxy for core farm and manufacturing strength, rose to $ 297.41 billion during the period, up from $ 281.59 billion a year ago.

The data suggest that India’s agri-export growth is not confined to raw commodities but increasingly spans processed foods and value-added segments. Improved logistics, expanded cold-chain capacity, greater adherence to sanitary and phytosanitary standards, and targeted market access initiatives have collectively enhanced India’s competitiveness in global agricultural markets.

Major export destinations exhibiting positive growth in January 2026 included the UAE, China, Hong Kong, the Netherlands, and Italy, indicating broad-based demand across West Asia, East Asia, and Europe. Over the April–January period, China, the United States, the UAE, Spain, and Hong Kong registered significant increases in imports from India, providing diversified market support for agricultural shipments.

The strong January performance positions agriculture and allied sectors as strategic contributors to India’s broader export ambitions. As global supply chains recalibrate and food security concerns intensify worldwide, India’s expanding agri-export footprint reflects both production resilience and policy-driven efforts to integrate farmers and agri-enterprises into global value chains.

With continued emphasis on value addition, export infrastructure, and market diversification, the farm sector is increasingly evolving from a domestic livelihood backbone into a dynamic driver of foreign exchange earnings and trade growth.