The area accounted for 21.8% of India’s whole agricultural and meals exports final 12 months, making it one of many nation’s most vital markets for farm merchandise corresponding to rice, bananas, spices, meat and dairy.
The report warned that extended instability, notably across the Strait of Hormuz, might ripple throughout India’s farm financial system by disrupting shipments and elevating insurance coverage prices, probably affecting farmers, meals processors and exporters throughout a number of states.
Rice, bananas and spices among the many most uncovered
Cereals, fruits, greens and spices make up the majority of India’s exports to West Asia, totaling $7.48 billion in 2025, or almost 29% of India’s international exports on this class.
Rice exports are particularly susceptible. India shipped $4.43 billion value of rice to West Asia, accounting for 36.7% of its international rice exports, making Gulf markets essential for producers in states corresponding to Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Banana exporters are much more depending on the area, with 79.6% of India’s banana exports — value $396.5 million — going to West Asia, the report mentioned.Spice shipments additionally present robust publicity. Nutmeg, mace and cardamom exports totaled $295.5 million, with 70.5% shipped to the Gulf area.
Meat and dairy exports extremely reliant on Gulf markets
India exported $1.81 billion value of meat and seafood merchandise to West Asia in 2025.
Practically 98.9% of India’s sheep and goat meat exports and 97.4% of contemporary beef exports have been shipped to the area, highlighting the heavy dependence of livestock exporters on Gulf demand.
Dairy exports are equally uncovered. India exported $281.1 million value of dairy merchandise to West Asia, together with butter and dairy fat value $203 million, which accounted for 58.1% of India’s international exports of those merchandise.
Processed meals, drinks and tobacco additionally in danger
Exports of processed meals, sugar and cocoa preparations to West Asia stood at $1.35 billion in 2025, together with sugar, bakery merchandise and processed fruits.
The area can also be a serious marketplace for Indian drinks. About 81% of India’s beer exports and 55.6% of its delicate drink exports have been shipped to West Asia final 12 months.
Tobacco shipments are one other space of publicity, with exports of uncooked and manufactured tobacco merchandise totaling lots of of tens of millions of {dollars} and accounting for as much as 50% of India’s exports in sure tobacco classes.
Must diversify markets
Based on GTRI, a number of merchandise — together with bananas, meat, spices and sure drinks — ship greater than 70% of their exports to West Asia, making them extremely susceptible to commerce disruptions.
“India’s agricultural exports have developed a deep dependence on West Asian markets over the previous decade,” the report mentioned, including that exporters could must diversify markets to cut back extreme reliance on a single area.
