Rise in rice exports and edible oil imports observed

17-Oct-2025 04:32 PM

New Delhi. Latest data from the Union Commerce Ministry shows that India's total rice exports increased by 33.37 percent to $924.88 million in September 2025 compared to September 2024. Exports of poultry and dairy products also increased by 32 percent to $568.19 million.

Furthermore, tea export earnings increased by 22 percent to $106.6 million, and cashew exports increased by 58 percent to $25.85 million, and cashew exports jumped 106 percent to $42.4 million. Marine product exports also increased by 23 percent to $781.02 million.

On the other hand, during the period under review, total spice exports from India fell by 5 percent to $316.57 million. Oil meal exports fell by 9 percent to $110.97 million, and oilseed exports slipped by nearly 2 percent to $71.59 million. A significant increase was recorded in the export of petroleum products and jewelry.

As far as imports into India are concerned, vegetable oil imports jumped by 53 percent to $1.74 billion during September 2025 compared to September 2024.

Similarly, cotton and waste imports increased by nearly 24 percent to $166.23 million, and fruit and vegetable imports increased by 36 percent to $389.3 million. Gold imports saw a massive jump of 107 percent, and silver imports also increased by 139 percent.

But during the period under review, the import of pulses declined by 55 percent to $190.79 million and the import of mineral oil crude (petroleum) declined by 6 percent to $14.03 billion.

Import of some minerals also declined. Commentators say that compared to last year, the global market price of pulses decreased significantly during the month of September this year and the import of gram and lentils in India did not increase rapidly.

But due to the festival season, there was an increase in the import of edible oils and hence the import expenditure increased significantly.