Agricultural and Processed Food Exports Show Mixed Trend in January

17-Feb-2026 08:44 PM

New Delhi. Data released by the Union Ministry of Commerce shows that India's exports of agricultural and processed food products, spices, dry fruits (cashews), and dairy and poultry products experienced a mixed trend in terms of earnings during January 2026.

Export earnings for rice, tea, spices, cashews, and oil meal declined significantly, while export earnings for coffee, fruits and vegetables, dairy products, and poultry products increased significantly. Export earnings for gold and silver also increased significantly.

Regarding import expenditure, imports for cotton and cotton waste, vegetable oil, and non-ferrous metals increased significantly in January, while import expenditure for pulses and petroleum declined.

According to official data, rice export earnings in January 2026 fell to $1.03 billion, a decrease of nearly 25 percent or $340 million from $1.37 billion in January 2025. Similarly, spice export earnings fell 10 percent to $305.42 million.

However, dairy and poultry export earnings increased by 18 percent to $607.84 million, while oil meal export earnings fell 7 percent to $108.8 million. Jewelry exports also fell 23 percent to $2.31 billion. Import expenditure on pulses declined by 47 percent to $401.12 million.

Analysts note that export volumes of some agriculturally processed products declined, while export offer values ​​of some other products declined. The rupee's significant depreciation against the dollar also impacted dollar earnings. India is the world's largest exporter of rice and spices. A decline in its export earnings is bound to impact its overall export earnings.