The export performance of agricultural and processed food products from India showed a mixed trend during the period from April to October 2024, compared to the same period in the previous year, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA).
Key Exports Showing Growth:
- Pulses: Exports increased from 3.41 lakh tons to 3.66 lakh tons.
- Groundnut: Exports improved from 3.18 lakh tons to 3.54 lakh tons.
- Guar Gum: Exports rose from 2.56 lakh tons to 2.61 lakh tons.
- Milled Products: Exports grew from 1.30 lakh tons to 1.59 lakh tons.
- Basmati Rice: Exports surged from 26.08 lakh tons to 32.44 lakh tons.
Exports Declining:
- Non-Basmati Rice: Export decreased from 73.18 lakh tons to 57.69 lakh tons, partly due to high prices of maize and a ban on wheat exports.
- Wheat: Exports dropped drastically from 79,413 tons to just 2,175 tons. The export of wheat has been banned for a long period.
- Other Cereals (Mainly Maize): Exports fell from 13.26 lakh tons to 2.99 lakh tons.
- Cashew Nuts: Exports declined for both processed cashew kernel (from 28,502 tons to 27,982 tons) and cashew nut shell liquid (from 6,572 tons to 5,107 tons).
The opening of exports for non-basmati white rice from September is expected to boost its export volume in the coming months, especially as the export performance of basmati rice is already strong. However, there is little expectation of improvement in wheat exports as the ban remains in place. On the other hand, the exportable stock of groundnut is increasing with the arrival of new kharif season goods, which could support further growth in exports in the near future.