Buffalo Meat and Non-Basmati Rice Drive 14% Surge in India's Q1 Agri Exports to $7.64 Billion
India's APEDA-monitored agricultural exports jumped 14% to $7.641 billion in April–June 2026, led by a 66% surge in buffalo meat shipments and solid growth in non-basmati rice and pulses, even as basmati rice, fresh fruits, and dairy declin
The short answer
India's APEDA-monitored agri exports rose approximately 14% year-on-year to $7.641 billion in Q1 FY2026-27, up from $6.711 billion in the same quarter last year. Buffalo meat exports surged 66% to $1.49 billion, while non-basmati rice shipments grew 12% in value and 32% in volume. Pulses also posted strong gains of 52%, though basmati rice, fresh fruits, dairy, groundnut, and poultry all recorded declines.
The headline number
Overall Exports Cross $7.6 Billion Mark in Q1
India's agricultural exports under the APEDA umbrella grew roughly 14% in value during the April–June quarter of the current financial year, reaching $7.641 billion compared with $6.711 billion in the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The growth was broad-based in commodity segments, even as several premium and horticulture categories lost ground. The quarterly performance reflects sustained overseas appetite for India's staple and protein exports at a time when global food-trade flows remain under pressure.
The star performers
Buffalo Meat and Pulses Post Standout Gains
Buffalo meat (carabeef) was the single biggest driver of export growth, with shipment value surging 66% to $1.49 billion from $896.82 million a year ago. Volume growth was equally robust at 32%, reaching 3.4 lakh tonnes against 2.57 lakh tonnes in Q1 of the previous year.
Pulses registered the second-sharpest value gain at 52%, rising to $363.77 million from $238.75 million. In volume terms, pulses shipments crossed 4.02 lakh tonnes, up from 2.39 lakh tonnes a year earlier.
Miscellaneous processed items also posted 14% growth to $470.70 million, indicating continued traction for India's processed-food segment in international markets.
Grains in focus
Non-Basmati Rice Surges; Basmati Slips on Reduced Volumes
Non-basmati rice emerged as a key export pillar, with value rising 12% to $1.59 billion from $1.41 billion. The volume story was even stronger — shipments climbed 32% to 4.38 million tonnes from 3.32 million tonnes, suggesting that price realisations per tonne moderated even as demand held firm.
Basmati rice, by contrast, slipped 3% in value to $1.44 billion from $1.49 billion the previous year. Volumes also fell, declining to 15.39 lakh tonnes from 17.32 lakh tonnes — a trend that points to either softer demand in key importing markets or tighter availability of premium varieties.
The laggards
Fresh Fruits, Dairy, Groundnut, and Poultry Record Declines
Several categories were in the red during the quarter:
- Fresh fruits fell to $281.11 million from $324.87 million
- Dairy products declined to $171.27 million from $182.22 million
- Groundnut dropped to $164.19 million from $180.27 million
- Guargum slipped to $149.53 million from $166.15 million
- Poultry products fell sharply to $53.73 million from $73.26 million
- Fresh vegetables also eased to $175.46 million from $197.57 million
Processed vegetables bucked the horticulture trend, posting a marginal gain to $207.61 million from $204.69 million. The broad weakness in fresh produce and animal-protein segments other than buffalo meat warrants attention from exporters and trade bodies heading into Q2.
Why it matters
The Q1 performance underscores a structural shift in India's agri-export basket, with high-volume, price-competitive commodities — buffalo meat, non-basmati rice, and pulses — increasingly driving headline growth. However, the softening of basmati rice, fresh fruits, dairy, and groundnut exports signals that premium and horticulture segments face demand or supply headwinds that traders and policymakers should monitor closely. For agri-businesses and commodity traders, the divergence between commodity and value-added export trends points to both opportunities and risks in the quarters ahead.
Frequently asked
- What was the total value of India's APEDA-monitored agri exports in Q1 FY2026-27?
- India's APEDA-monitored agricultural exports reached $7.641 billion in April–June 2026, up approximately 14% from $6.711 billion in the same quarter of the previous year.
- By how much did buffalo meat exports grow in Q1 FY2026-27?
- Buffalo meat (carabeef) exports surged 66% in value to $1.49 billion from $896.82 million a year ago, with volumes rising 32% to 3.4 lakh tonnes.
- How did basmati rice exports perform compared to non-basmati rice in Q1 FY27?
- Non-basmati rice exports grew 12% in value to $1.59 billion and 32% in volume to 4.38 million tonnes, while basmati rice declined 3% in value to $1.44 billion on lower volumes of 15.39 lakh tonnes versus 17.32 lakh tonnes the previous year.
- Which major agri-export categories recorded a decline in Q1 FY2026-27?
- Fresh fruits, dairy products, groundnut, guargum, poultry products, and fresh vegetables all recorded lower export values compared to Q1 of the previous year. Basmati rice also declined in both value and volume terms.
Source
This report summarises and analyses coverage from The Hindu BusinessLine — Agri Business. The analysis and India context are IndianAgri's own.
