India exported about 7.75 lakh tonnes of sugar in the 2024-25 marketing season (February–September), according to AISTA. Of this, 6.13 lakh tonnes were white sugar, 1.04 lakh tonnes refined, and 33,338 tonnes raw sugar.
India has made prior registration with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) mandatory for non-basmati rice exports, a move aimed at giving the government greater control over shipments. According to stakeholders, the step will not immediately affect trade apart from adding a minimal cost.
At the India International Tea Convention 2025, experts urged joint efforts between government and industry to make the tea value chain more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable.
After last year’s record purchases, India’s pulses imports have slowed on weak demand and falling prices. April–August imports fell 52% to $841 million from $1.76 billion a year ago, with August down 64% year-on-year. Except tur, imports of urad, yellow peas, chana, and masoor all declined sharply.
India’s cotton production in 2025-26 is expected to rise to 325–340 lakh bales (vs. 312 lakh bales last year), despite reduced acreage in Gujarat and Maharashtra and rain damage in some States. Good rainfall, fewer pest attacks, and better yields are driving optimism.
Punjab’s rice output may dip as floods damaged paddy across 2 lakh hectares, though yields in unaffected areas could improve. Last year, the State produced 14.36 mt of rice, including basmati.
The 2025 kharif outlook for nutricereals (Shree Anna) is broadly positive, led by maize, which has gained from strong demand in ethanol and livestock feed. Nationally, coarse cereal acreage rose by 12.09 lh to 91.71 lh, with maize alone expanding 10.32 lh to 94.62 lh.
Gujarat, producing over half of India’s groundnuts, is projected to hit a record 66 lakh tonnes this year — 26% higher than last year’s 52.2 lakh tonnes.
India's kharif rice production is expected to fall to around 120-121 million tonnes this year, slightly down from 121.85 million tonnes last year due to heavy rains and floods impacting yields in some states. A urea shortage, especially in August, may also cause a minor dip in production. While overall crop conditions remain favorable, Punjab is expected to see at least a 20% reduction in output.
China has suspended soybean purchases from the US, opting for costlier imports from Brazil due to a 20% extra tariff on American shipments. Despite usually buying US soybeans from September to January, China has not booked forward sales for September-October.
India’s oilmeal exports fell 2.4% to 15.16 lt in April–July 2025-26 (15.54 lt last year) due to lower shipments of soyabean, rapeseed, and castorseed meal.
Coconut oil prices have nearly tripled in Asia within two years, driven by supply shortages, erratic weather, and rising demand, especially from India. Consumers are switching to cheaper alternatives like sunflower oil, reserving coconut oil for select dishes.
Stronger demand from blenders, upcountry buyers, and exporters lifted tea prices at Coonoor auctions, with high-priced and better liquoring CTC leaf dearer by ₹3–₹4. Rains in the Nilgiris are hampering plucking and processing, but intermittent showers may boost the next season’s crop.
Cotton acreage in Gujarat, India’s top producing state, has dropped 13% to 20.35 lakh hectares as many farmers shift to more profitable crops like groundnut and soybean. The switch is driven by higher MSP for oilseeds, the ability to grow a second crop post-harvest, and labour issues during cotton harvest.
After hitting record highs in July, coconut oil and copra prices have started to decline, dropping by ₹6 and ₹10 per kg, respectively. Wholesale prices in Kochi now stand at ₹379 for coconut oil and ₹240 for copra, down from ₹393 and ₹261. The fall is due to increased copra arrivals from Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. Retail coconut oil prices remain high at ₹450–500 per kg, but a further dip is expected as traders offload stocks.
A farmers and traders association has urged the Centre to curb cheap pulse imports to stabilise prices and encourage higher sowing. Sunil Kumar Baldeva, President of the Agri Farmer and Trade Association, said imports from Russia and Canada have created an oversupply, particularly of yellow peas priced below $400/tonne, which is hurting local markets.
India’s tea exports grew 17% in value to $218.95 million in Q1 FY25, driven by strong demand from traditional markets. June alone saw a 32% rise to $83.24 million. In rupee terms, Q1 exports rose 20% to ₹1,873.72 crore. Despite geopolitical tensions, exports to Iran and CIS nations remained steady.
India’s oilmeal exports dipped marginally by 0.72% to 10.94 lakh tonnes in Q1FY26, despite a decline in soyabean meal shipments. Rapeseed meal exports, however, rose to 5.31 lt (5.23 lt last year), with China emerging as a major buyer, importing 1.80 lt versus just 7,000 tonnes last year.
Malaysia’s palm oil production is projected to grow by a modest 0.5% to 19.5 million tonnes in 2025–26, after a 1.6% decline in 2024–25, driven by favourable weather in key states like Sarawak, Sabah, and Johor, according to BMI. The Malaysian Met Department forecasts normal to slightly below-normal rainfall till September 2025, with above-normal rains expected during the North-East monsoon.
Heavy rains in North India have dampened pepper demand, keeping prices steady at ₹666 for ungarbled and ₹686 for MG1 at Kochi. According to IPSTA's Kishore Shamji, domestic prices are under pressure due to slow upcountry demand and cheaper imported pepper from Sri Lanka and others, available at ₹625–650.
U.S. coffee importers are rushing to bring in Brazilian coffee before a new 50% tariff takes effect on August 1, imposed by the Trump administration. Traders are rerouting shipments mid-journey and diverting stocks from Canada and Mexico to avoid the tariff. Brazil supplies a third of U.S. coffee, and prices are already rising.
Good liquoring CTC dust teas saw a price boost at Kochi auctions (Sale 28) due to strong blender demand, with 64% of the 6.65 lakh kg offered sold. Average prices rose by ₹2 to ₹145/kg.
Edible oil imports declined by 8.78% to 92.08 lakh tonnes during November–June of the 2024–25 oil year, mainly due to lower palm and sunflower oil shipments. Palm oil imports fell to 42.85 lt from 57.63 lt, and sunflower oil to 18.92 lt from 24.63 lt. Soyabean oil imports rose to 30.3 lt from 18.68 lt.
Cotton Corporation of India (CCI) sees strong demand for its stocks amid improved mill buying and low private trade inventories. CCI has sold 67.09 lakh bales so far in the 2024–25 season after procuring over 1 crore bales at MSP.
The prices of good liquoring teas in CTC dust saw an uptick at the Kochi auctions, driven by strong demand from blenders. In Sale 28, these teas were firm to dearer by ₹1 to ₹2, with blenders accounting for 64 per cent of the 6,64,975 kg sold. According to auctioneers Forbes, Ewart & Figgis, the average price realisation for CTC dust rose by ₹2 to ₹145, compared to ₹143 in the previous week.
India’s agriculture system faces low productivity and farmer incomes, affecting around 100 million small and marginal farmers (SMFs) and leaving them highly vulnerable. To shift from subsistence to market-oriented farming, SMFs—who lacked surplus, skills, and market knowledge—were consolidated into Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs).
India’s tea production rose by nearly 40% in May 2025 to 130.6 million kg (mkg), driven by favourable weather. North India saw a 32% rise to 104.37 mkg, while South India’s output jumped 88% to 26.23 mkg. Assam’s production increased 24% to 62.59 mkg, and West Bengal’s was up 47% at 38.27 mkg.
West Bengal is targeting record paddy production in 2025-26, aiming to surpass last year’s all-time high of 256 lakh tonnes. The sowing target is set at 42 lakh hectares, up from 41.5 lh last year. “Around 3 lh has already been sown. With early rains and timely support, we’re confident of achieving 100% of the target by July-end,” said Pradip Mazumdar, Minister of Panchayat and Rural Development.
Kerala gears up to ensure ample coconut oil supply for Onam by boosting copra procurement despite rising prices and shortages, Agriculture Minister P. Prasad said. Through Kerafed, the state is sourcing coconuts from key districts at ₹1 above the Coconut Development Board’s price.
Soyabean oil prices have surged over 30% in 2025, outperforming gold, silver, and copper—driven largely by the US EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets for 2026–27. Only cobalt has risen more (37%) due to Congo’s export ban. In contrast, soyameal prices have dropped nearly 14% since January.
Pulses acreage lags in Karnataka as farmers shift to maize and cotton amid surplus rainfall. By July 5, 50.57 lakh hectares (lh) had been sown — 61% of the kharif 2025 target. Maize gained sharply, rising 14.6% y-o-y to 13.98 lh, 68% above normal.
India can more than double its maize output to 86 million tonnes by 2047 from the current 42.3 million tonnes, Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said at FICCI's 11th maize summit. He stressed the need for high-yield, non-GM seed varieties with higher starch content (targeting 72% vs. current 65–70%) to boost productivity beyond the current 3.7 tonnes/hectare.
Soyabean oil prices have surged over 30% in 2025, outperforming gold and other commodities, driven by the US EPA’s proposed Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) targets and policy changes favoring domestic biofuel feedstocks. Only cobalt has gained more due to Congo’s export ban. In contrast, soyabean meal prices have fallen nearly 14% since January. Research agency BMI noted contrasting trends in the soyabean complex: oil futures rose 11.8% m-o-m in June, while meal prices dropped 8.1%. The EPA’s new targets raise biomass-based diesel use, boosting soyabean oil demand by 250 million gallons/year. A recent US Senate bill further restricts clean fuel credits to North American feedstock.
Global palm oil prices are expected to remain stable in 2025, supported by strong demand from India and China and biofuel policies in the US and Indonesia, despite a projected rise in global output. Fitch’s BMI has kept its 2025 average CPO price forecast at MYR 4,150/tonne, expecting prices to range between MYR 3,800–4,000.
The Iran-Israel ceasefire boosted tea prices at Kochi auctions, especially for orthodox varieties, driven by strong overseas demand. In Sale 27, whole leaf teas were dearer by ₹5–10/kg, with a 95% sale of the 2.7 lakh kg offered. Exporters to West Asia and CIS remained active. Average price rose ₹3 to ₹183.
India's palm oil imports jumped 61% in June to an 11-month high of 953,000 tonnes, driven by low domestic stocks and a $100/ton price advantage over soy and sunflower oils. This helped lift total edible oil imports by 30% to 1.53 million tonnes, the highest since November.
India procured 531.13 lakh tonnes (lt) of rice for buffer stocks in the nine months till June 2025, slightly higher than 525.48 lt last year. This includes over 68 lt from the rabi crop. With annual rice needs at around 410 lt and a buffer norm of 135 lt, the government now holds surplus stock, including over 321 lt in carryover and unmilled paddy.
Farmgate prices of robusta coffee, India’s main variety, have dropped by about one-third in three months, mirroring global trends. Robusta cherry fell from ₹12,200–13,200 to ₹9,400–10,300 per 50-kg bag, and robusta parchment from ₹22,200–22,900 to ₹16,700–17,000.
Indian onions are losing out in global markets to cheaper supplies from Pakistan and China, as buyers have adapted to alternatives due to past Indian export curbs. Pakistan is offering onions at $170/tonne CNF to Sri Lanka, compared to India’s $330. Traders say Pakistan’s crop is larger and benefits from currency fluctuations.
During 2023-24, Punjab produced 71,490 tonnes of litchi, contributing 12.39% to India’s total litchi production. For the first time, India exported 1.5 tonnes of litchi from Punjab to Doha and Dubai this month, according to the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), an arm of the Commerce Ministry.
The area under monsoon-sown rice has jumped 58 per cent from a year ago to 1.32 million hectares (3.3 million acres) as of Friday, according to the Agriculture Ministry.
The government has banned the import of watermelon seeds to support local seed producers after a surge in imports last year. India imported 83,812 tonnes in 2023-24—double the three-year average. Domestic production, at 40,000 tonnes, falls short of the annual demand of 60,000–65,000 tonnes, leading to reliance on cheaper imported seeds.
Pulses imports fell 37% to $492 million in April-May FY25 from $782 million a year ago, as purchases of yellow peas and chickpeas slowed, according to Commerce Ministry data. Weak demand and last year’s high imports contributed to the decline, said Rahul Chauhan of I Grain India. He also cited a favourable monsoon and improved domestic production prospects.
Maize and cotton acreage in Karnataka has increased in the ongoing kharif 2025 season. As of June 20, maize area rose 10% to 9.92 lakh hectares (lh) and cotton by 39% to 3.35 lh compared to last year. Paddy and bajra saw slight increases, while jowar and ragi lagged behind.
Tur dal prices have dropped below ₹100/kg in key producing regions like Kalaburgi and Latur the lowest in nearly three years — offering relief to consumers. Prices have fallen nearly 50% from last year due to weak demand and ample supplies, driven by increased imports of tur and yellow peas.
India's basmati rice exports to Iran may reach last year’s level of 0.86 million tonnes, driven by continued demand and discounted pricing. However, about 100,000 tonnes are currently stranded at Kandla and Mundra ports due to the escalating Israel-Iran conflict. Exporters face uncertainty as Iran has advised shipments be made at exporters’ risk.
Early kharif sowing data shows a rise in overall crop acreage by 1.5 lakh hectares (lh) compared to last year, reaching 89.29 lh as of June 13. Most crops have seen higher coverage, except maize, arhar, and groundnut, which are slightly lower but expected to recover with the monsoon's progress after June 15.
India’s coconut product exports grew 25% in FY25, earning ₹4,349 crore, up from ₹3,469 crore last year. Activated carbon led the surge, with ₹2,799 crore in revenue from 1.76 lakh tonnes.
Every container entering the country must be supported by thorough risk assessment, logistical planning, and cost control. In 2025, the global fertiliser trade stands at a critical juncture, influenced by geopolitical tensions, currency fluctuations, evolving demand patterns, and increasing government interventions. The Indian fertiliser market, valued at $45.89 billion in 2025, is projected to reach $62.83 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.49 per cent.
In 2024-25, among the top five agricultural items exported to Afghanistan, oil meals led with exports worth $27.37 million, followed by tobacco at $15.91 million, with both commodities recording positive growth.
Indian tea exporters are concerned after Israel’s recent strikes on Iran, a key market for India’s orthodox tea. With Iran being the second-largest buyer after Iraq, accounting for 30–35 million kg annually, exporters fear disruptions if tensions escalate or fresh US sanctions are imposed.
India’s coffee exports have crossed $1.01 billion in the first five months of 2025, up 30% in value despite lower volumes (1.8 lakh tonnes vs 2.1 lakh tonnes last year). The European Union’s recent classification of India as a low-risk country under the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) is expected to further boost shipments.
India’s agricultural transformation is central to national development goals. Though over 50% of Indians work in agriculture, it contributes only 18% to GDP, unlike the service sector, which employs just 12% but contributes over 50%.
India’s sugar output for the 2025–26 season (October to September) is under threat as early data indicates a marginal decline in sugarcane acreage. While the drop in cultivated area appears slight, adverse weather conditions, inconsistent rainfall, and ongoing agricultural challenges could further impact production, potentially reducing it from 2024–25 levels.
