India’s millet export industry has decisively crossed the ₹2,000 crore threshold for the first time in its history. Provisional APEDA data for FY 2025–26 puts total millet exports at ₹2,053 crore — a 34.2% jump over the ₹1,530 crore recorded in FY 2024–25, and almost three times the FY 2022–23 baseline of ₹724 crore. Shipped volume rose 28% YoY to 4.18 lakh tonnes, with realisation per tonne climbing as Europe and North America absorbed premium organic and value-added grades.
The breakthrough has been a long time coming. The UN International Year of Millets in 2023 catalysed structural shifts in global procurement, but the real growth has come from sustained policy support: APEDA’s Millet Promotion Scheme, ECGC’s risk-cover expansion for nutri-cereal exporters, and India’s bilateral trade pushes during G20 deliberations have all converged to make Indian millets the default origin for European and Middle Eastern buyers.
Market Overview
Ragi (finger millet) led the FY 2025–26 export basket at ₹682 crore (33% of total value), followed by bajra (pearl millet) at ₹521 crore, jowar (sorghum) at ₹408 crore, and the minor millets group (kodo, foxtail, little, barnyard, proso) collectively contributing ₹442 crore. The minor millets category recorded the steepest YoY growth at 71%, driven by EU specialty-food importers and US clean-label brands willing to pay 40–60% premiums over commodity-grade pearl millet.
India now accounts for roughly 38% of global millet trade by volume and 28% by value — a remarkable shift from 19% value-share just three years ago. Niger, Mali and Sudan remain low-cost competitors on bajra, but India’s organic-certification penetration, EU EUDR compliance readiness, and integrated FSSAI–EU MRL alignment have given Indian shippers structural advantages that price competitors cannot easily replicate.
Demand Drivers: EU, GCC and North America
The EU is now India’s largest millet export market by value, accounting for ₹612 crore in FY 2025–26 (29.8% share), up from 18% three years ago. Germany alone imported ₹187 crore worth, primarily ragi flour and kodo grain for breakfast-cereal and gluten-free bakery applications. Netherlands followed at ₹142 crore, with much of that material re-exported through Rotterdam to Belgian, French, and Scandinavian processors.
The GCC bloc contributed ₹498 crore (24.3%), led by UAE (₹248 crore) and Saudi Arabia (₹164 crore). GCC demand is more bajra- and jowar-weighted, reflecting the South Asian diaspora and the growing penetration of millet-based health products in regional supermarket private labels. UAE retail chains Lulu and Carrefour both expanded their millet SKUs by 40%+ in calendar 2025.
North America — primarily the US — added ₹287 crore (14% share), driven by clean-label and gluten-free product launches. Canadian organic importers absorbed another ₹83 crore. Both markets are paying $1,200–1,450/MT CIF for premium organic minor millets, against the $620–780/MT FOB benchmark for conventional bulk grades.
FOB Price Analysis: Mundra, Kandla & JNPT
Average realisation across the millet basket worked out to $578/MT FOB equivalent for FY 2025–26, up 5.1% YoY despite a 28% volume increase — a strong indicator that value-mix is improving even as the export base expands. Pearl millet conventional remained the volume anchor at $362–388/MT FOB Mundra; finger millet ranged $640–710/MT depending on cleaning grade; minor-millet organic lots cleared at $1,180–1,420/MT FOB Kandla for EU consignments.
Forward bookings for Q3 2026 have already locked in approximately 1.42 lakh tonnes — equivalent to 34% of last year’s full annual volume — at prices 4–7% above current spot. Most of these contracts carry EU EUDR and BRC compliance attestations, signalling that buyers are willing to pay premium for end-to-end documentation.
Sourcing Outlook
FY 2026–27 is on track to cross ₹2,500 crore based on current order-book momentum and the EU Green Deal alignment requirements that explicitly favour low-input grains. Exporters with FSSAI export-tier licences, organic certification (NPOP, NOP, EU 834/2007) and origin-traceability systems will capture disproportionate value. Bulk-only suppliers competing on price will continue to lose share to certified value-added players.
For importers building 2026–27 procurement strategies, India is the lowest-risk origin on millets for both supply security and compliance documentation. Sub-Saharan African origins remain price-competitive but face EUDR deforestation-attestation challenges that Indian shippers have already cleared. RNG advises buyers to lock in at least 50% of annual requirement before the September new-crop arrivals to avoid premium-grade allocation risk.
- FY 2025–26 millet exports hit ₹2,053 crore — up 34% YoY, with volume up 28% to 4.18 lakh tonnes.
- EU is now India’s #1 millet market at ₹612 crore (29.8%); minor millets grew 71% YoY.
- India holds 38% of global millet trade volume; organic certification driving premium realisation.
- Q3 2026 forward bookings already at 1.42 lakh tonnes, 4–7% above spot, with EUDR/BRC compliance built in.
| Variety | FOB ($/MT) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| Pearl Millet (Bajra) — Conventional | $378 | +4.2% |
| Finger Millet (Ragi) — Cleaned | $685 | +6.8% |
| Sorghum (Jowar) — White | $432 | +3.5% |
| Minor Millets — Organic (EU) | $1,320 | +9.7% |
India’s share of global millet trade has risen from 19% to 28% in three years — a once-in-a-decade structural shift driven by certification, traceability and policy support.
| 1121 Steam | $1,180 | up |
| 1121 Raw | $1,080 | up |
| Cumin (ASTA) | $3,200 | down |
| Yellow Maize | $248 | up |
| Apr 30 | APEDA Annual Renewal |
| May 15 | EU MRL Update — Spices & Millets |
| Jun 01 | New Crop Basmati — Pricing Season |
| Jun 10 | GCC Customs Update — Dubai Portal |
| Trade & Export | India-UAE CEPA: Agro Exporters Gain Zero-Duty Access on 97% of Tariff Lines | # |
| Market Updates | Cumin Seeds: Global Shortage Pushes FOB Prices to a 3-Year High | # |
| Regulatory | EU MRL Updates 2026: New Pesticide Residue Limits | # |