India’s Top 10 processed food exports (FY 2024-25)

Let us see India’s top 10 processed food exports below in detailed

India’s food processing sector is on fire. In FY 2024-25, processed food exports surged from $10.88 billion (previous year) to $12.9 billion.

This is not just about shipping raw vegetables or grains, it is value added food materials – frozen, pulped, pickled and powdered products.

From shrimp farms in Andhra to mango orchards in Tamil Nadu, these exports created 8.2 lakh rural jobs, with women leading the charge in peeling lines and grading sheds.

As the world is craving for ready-to-eat convenience and rising health trends, India’s processed foods are the quite engine driving economic growth.

India’s processed food exports have really taken off in recent years, becoming an important part of the country’s economy. Thanks to India’s rich agricultural resources and diverse food traditions, the country produces a wide variety of processed products that are loved around the world. From spices and pickles to ready-to-eat snacks and frozen foods, Indian exporters have been able to meet international quality standards while sharing authentic flavours.

In this post, I will introduce the Top 10 processed food exports from India, these products showcase not only the country’s culinary heritage but also its growing prowess in food processing and global trade. understanding these key exports gives a clear picture of how India is making its mark on the global processed foods market.

Let us see below the stats from APEDA and MPEDA’s final tally

Major Processed Food Exports of India

Frozen Shrimp

(IQF, PDO, Breaded)

Total Export Value – $ 5.17 billion

7,41,529 MT(metric tonnes) of frozen shrimp have been exported.

Vannamei alone – 6,78,000 MT(metric tonnes) worth $ 4.8 billion.

India is now world’s largest shrimp exporter– bigger than Thailand and Ecuador.

Mango Pulp & Fruit Concentrates

(Alphonso, Totapuri, Kesar)

Total Export Value – $ 1.10 billion

2,85,000 MT(metric tonnes) of mango pulp and fruit concentrates exported.

Every spoon of mango lassi they drink in Dubai, every mango cheesecake in London, every Haagen-Dazs mango sorbet in Singapore, chances of those are from the stainless-steel tank in Krishnagiri, Tamil Nadu.

Pickled Gherkins

(In Brine/ Vinegar)

Total Export Value – $ 842 million

1,42,000 MT(metric tonnes) in Barrels (enough to fill 28 Olympic swimming pools with crunchy cucumbers).

The crunchy pickle inside a McDonald’s burger in Germany, probably grown by a farmer in Karnataka and pickled in a factory in Tumkur.

Ready -to-Eat Indian Meals

Total Export Value – $ 1.58 billion

Top seller – MTR Butter masala pouch , 1.8 million pouches exported to USA every month.

Frozen Buffalo

(90% VL cuts)

Total Export Value – $ 598 million

1.25 million tonnes of frozen buffalo meat exported.

India feeds 18% of global halal beef demand. The Middle East loves Indian Carabeef. Halal-certified, Vacuum-packed, shipped at -18 degrees Celsius reaches Dubai in 72 hours.

AL-Kabeer plant in Rudraram processes 600 buffaloes/day – 180 tonnes meat – reaches Dubai in 60 hours.

Cereal Preparations

(Pasta, Mat, Cornflakes)

Total Export Value – $ 785 million

22,000 MT(metric tonnes) of Oats been exported to Australia.

Cornflakes + malt + pastas + bakery = breakfast of 42 countries, all value added cereal products are from Indian factories.

One factory in Rajpura in Punjab runs24*7 making 200 tonnes of pasta per day.

Frozen Fish Fillets

Total Export Value – $ 623 million

2,10,000 MT(metric tonnes) of ribbonfish, croaker and Indian salmon.

Spain imports 42% of India’s frozen fish.

Frozen Squid

(Rings, Tubes)

Total Export Value – $ 368 million

92,000 MT(metric tonnes) of rings & tubes exported.

Italy’s “Calamari Fritti” is now 68% Indian, cheaper than local Mediterranean squid.

Dehydrated Onion & Garlic

Total Export Value – $ 412 million

Mahuva (Gujarat) alone dehydrated 83,452 tonnes of white onion – world’s largest cluster.

Canada sprinkles Indian garlic powder on 1 in every 4 pizzas.

Processed Dairy

(Milk powder, Ghee, Cheese)

Total Export Value – $ 498 million

1,13,000 MT(metric tonnes) have been exported.

Amul ghee reached 28 new countries, skimmed milk powder to Algeria (42,000 MT) help stabilise their baby food prices. USA imports 38% of India’s processed Cheese now in every shawarma roll.

To sum up, India’s top processed food exports highlight how the country is blending tradition with modern food technology to become a strong player in international markets. These products have gained popularity because of their great taste, quality and convenience meeting the needs of consumers worldwide.

Total processed food exports – $12.92 billion (FY 2024-25).

Women workers in shrimp peeling is 68% , in gherkin grading is 72% and in mango pulp lines is 55%.

As the export industry continues to grow, there are exciting opportunities for manufacturers and exporters to reach even more markets by investing in better packaging and innovation. Looking ahead, India’s processed food sector looks set to expand further helping the country boost its economy while sharing unique flavours with the world. Keeping an eye on these top exports is important for anyone interested in India’s food industry and global trade.