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Food export from India: Step-by-step guide to export food products
Learn how to start a food export business from India easily with e-commerce and start selling your food products across the world.
India’s strong agricultural base has positioned it as a fast-growing exporter of food products worldwide. Today, India’s agricultural and food products reach many global markets, including the USA, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and the UK. Global demand is rising, driven by India’s reputation for high-quality organic spices, fresh fruits and vegetables, edible oils, and competitive pricing. In this blog, earn about overall trends in food exports from India, top exported food products, the government bodies that support food exporters, and how you can also start your own food export business.1
Overview and trends of India’s food products export
India is among the world’s leading exporters of agricultural and processed food products. In FY 2024, the country recorded over $48 billion in agricultural exports, with major destinations including the US, UAE, Saudi Arabia, China, and Bangladesh. This potential is reflected across key categories such as tea, coffee, and rice. Rice alone accounts for more than 20% of India’s total agricultural exports, while coffee exports reached over $1.2 billion in FY 2025 (April–December).2
What are the most exported food products from India?
India is known for exporting a wide variety of food products to countries across the world. Some of the top products exported from India include:
Tea:
India is among the top five tea exporters globally, contributing roughly 10% of world tea exports. Black tea is the top exported tea, making up 96% of total tea exports. Other popular exports include green tea, herbal tea, masala tea, and lemon tea.3
Coffee:
India is the seventh largest coffee grower in the world. There is rising demand for instant coffees produced in India, with instant coffee making up one-third of total coffee exports. Robusta coffee beans are one of the major coffee products exported from the country.4
Rice:
Rice is one of India’s leading food exports, accounting for over 20% of total agricultural exports.5 Basmati rice is the top rice product exported from the country. In FY 2024–25, India exported approximately 5.9 million tons of basmati rice.6
Spices:
India is the world’s largest exporter of spices. Popular spices exported from the country include: pepper, cardamom, chilli, ginger, turmeric, coriander, and celery.7
Wheat:
Wheat export from India is gaining momentum, with rising import in destinations across the Middle East. Currently, over 10% of total wheat export from India is exported to Saudi Arabia.8
Pulses:
India also exports pulses to global destinations like the UAE, US, China, and Bangladesh. Top varieties include dried legumes, beans, dried peas, toor dal, mung dal, among others.9
Top countries for food items export from India
As of FY25 (up to December 2024), the leading importers of India’s agricultural products were:
● The US
● Saudi Arabia
● The UAE
● Malaysia
● China
● Vietnam
● Bangladesh
● The UK10
Government bodies promoting food products export from India
APEDA (Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority)
APEDA promotes the export of agricultural and processed food products such as fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, and cereals through quality certification, market intelligence, and trade facilitation.
Coffee Board of India
Coffee Board of India oversees the promotion of Indian coffee globally by supporting growers, improving quality, and organizing international marketing campaigns and trade fairs.
Tea Board of India
Tea Board of India regulates and promotes Indian tea exports by ensuring quality standards, assisting exporters, and positioning Indian tea brands in global markets.
Spices Board of India
Spices Board of India is responsible for developing, certifying, and promoting India’s spice exports, including pepper, cardamom, chilli, and turmeric, to maintain India’s global leadership in spices trade.
Government schemes that promote food export from India
Some key government schemes support and promote food exports from India include:
Financial Assistance Scheme (FAS):
It is an export promotion scheme run by APEDA which provides financial assistance to agri-product exporters in three broad areas: development of export infrastructure, quality and infrastructure development, and market development.11
Integrated Coffee Development Project (ICDP):
Managed by the Coffee Board of India, this scheme focuses on boosting yields, promoting cultivation in non-traditional areas, and ensuring sustainable coffee farming. The aim is to enhance India’s coffee production and improve global competitiveness.12
Tea Development & Promotion Scheme (TDPS):
The scheme aims to strengthen India’s tea industry by improving production, quality, exports, and small grower development. It also promotes value addition, research, and supply chain transparency to enhance Indian tea’s exports.13
Documents required to export food items from India
Some of the important documents that are needed to export food products are:
How to start food export business from India? Step-by-step guide
Here’s a look at the key steps involved in starting a food export business from India:
Step 1: Set up your business:
Set up your business as a sole proprietorship, partnership, LLP, or company. Enroll with APEDA to access key export incentives.
Step 2: Complete market research and identify buyers
Study demand by market. Use export data and ecommerce platforms to identify trending products. Find buyers through trade shows and exhibitions, or through ecommerce export programs like Amazon Global Selling.
Step 3: Obtain product documentation
Obtain IEC, register to get GST for your business, and obtain your Registration cum Membership Certificate (RCMC). Also ensure your products are compliant and have the correct HS code.
Step 4: Obtain relevant product approvals
Apply for relevant product approvals, such as FSSAI license and health certification. Depending on the product destination, also follow the steps to obtain phytosanitary or fumigation certificates.
Step 5: Manage logistics and shipping
Choose a reliable logistics partner and prepare your products for international shipping with export-ready packaging. Understand customs procedures, documentation requirements, and delivery timelines for each target market. Use fulfillment solutions like Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) that streamline cross-border delivery and reduce operational complexity.
How to export food products with Amazon Global Selling?
Here’s how you can start your food export business from India with Amazon Global Selling:
Step 1: Register on Amazon Global Selling:
Create an Amazon seller account on Seller Central to reach customers across 18+ Amazon global marketplaces. All you need to register is ID proof, address proof, and credit or debit card (international transactions enabled).
Step 2: List your products:
Once registered, list your products on Amazon global marketplaces. Use the latest tools and expert support to make your listings more visible to customers.
Step 3: Ship and delivery globally:
Choose to manage your own logistics through Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN) or get expert support from Amazon to store, pack, ship, and deliver internationally with Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA). If you are an FBA seller and opt for Amazon SEND, partnered carriers will handle customs clearance for you.
Step 4: Receive payments and grow your business:
Receive payment in INR directly in your bank account and use tools like Brand Registry and Amazon Ads to grow your business.
Conclusion
India’s food export sector continues to expand, driven by strong global demand and the country’s rich variety of agricultural and processed products. As international markets look for high-quality, competitively priced food items, Indian exporters are well placed to meet that demand. With clear trends, established product categories, and growing opportunities across regions, Indian food export business can build their own presence in global markets.
Amazon Global Selling: Easy e-commerce exports and hassle-free shipping
If you are a business owner and you want to sell your products to the world, Amazon Global Selling enables you to list and sell ‘Made in India’ products on 18 Amazon global marketplaces. As an e-commerce export program, Amazon Global Selling provides support and guidance at every step of your export journey, connecting you to Amazon’s Service Provider Network for tailored compliance, payments, and logistics support.
Registered sellers can choose to ship their products by themselves through Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN) or they can opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and outsource order fulfillment to Amazon including packing, storage, delivery, and returns. Amazon Global Selling simplifies the process of international shipping to the world, helping businesses navigate customs and reach a vast audience.
Registered sellers can choose to ship their products by themselves through Merchant Fulfilled Network (MFN) or they can opt for Fulfillment by Amazon (FBA) and outsource order fulfillment to Amazon including packing, storage, delivery, and returns. Amazon Global Selling simplifies the process of international shipping to the world, helping businesses navigate customs and reach a vast audience.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Which is the best food product to export from India?
Rice is the one of the largest exported agriculture products from India, accounting for over 20% of total agricultural product export from India.
2. Is food export profitable?
Food export can be a profitable business if done correctly. When you export food items from India, you can make the most of the growing demand for Indian spices and consumables globally.
3. Which vegetables are exported from India to the US?
Onion, mixed vegetables, potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, garlic, and green chilies are some of the most popular vegetables that are exported from India to the US.16
4. Do I need a special license to export food?
Yes, you need an FSSAI license to export food items or consumables to the global market.
5. Which food is highly exported from India?
Rice is one of India’s top agricultural exports. Other top food exports include:
• Tea
• Coffee
• Wheat
• Pulses
• Spices
• Tea
• Coffee
• Wheat
• Pulses
• Spices
Published on September 28, 2021.
Updated on December 15, 2025.
Sources:
1. https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/IndiaExport/Home/Index
2. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
3. https://www.ibef.org/exports/indian-tea-industry
4. https://www.ibef.org/exports/coffee-industry-in-india
5. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
6. https://ibef.org/news/india-exported-19-86-million-tonnes-of-rice-till-march-25-2025-of-fy25-government-tells-rajya-sabha
7. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/spices-export-from-india.aspx
8. https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/IndiaExport/Home/Index
9. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/pulses-export-from-india.aspx
10. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
11. https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/financial-assistance-scheme
12. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2094542®=3&lang=2
13. https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/tdpspdstgmisg
14. https://www.credlix.com/blogs/all-documents-required-for-export-from-india-easy-check-list
15. https://www.solutionbuggy.com/blog/how-to-export-food-products-from-india
16. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/vegetable-export-from-india.aspx
Updated on December 15, 2025.
Sources:
1. https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/IndiaExport/Home/Index
2. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
3. https://www.ibef.org/exports/indian-tea-industry
4. https://www.ibef.org/exports/coffee-industry-in-india
5. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
6. https://ibef.org/news/india-exported-19-86-million-tonnes-of-rice-till-march-25-2025-of-fy25-government-tells-rajya-sabha
7. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/spices-export-from-india.aspx
8. https://agriexchange.apeda.gov.in/IndiaExport/Home/Index
9. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/pulses-export-from-india.aspx
10. https://www.ibef.org/exports/agriculture-and-food-industry-india
11. https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/financial-assistance-scheme
12. https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleseDetail.aspx?PRID=2094542®=3&lang=2
13. https://www.myscheme.gov.in/schemes/tdpspdstgmisg
14. https://www.credlix.com/blogs/all-documents-required-for-export-from-india-easy-check-list
15. https://www.solutionbuggy.com/blog/how-to-export-food-products-from-india
16. https://www.exportimportdata.in/blogs/vegetable-export-from-india.aspx
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