India's Farm Trade with Bangladesh
Bangladesh is one of India's largest buyers of farm produce, much of it moving by road and rail across the land border. Onion, rice, cotton, maize, fresh fruits such as mandarins and apples, spices and pulses are among the main items.
Main Indian Farm Products Bought by Bangladesh
- OnionOnion is India's most politically sensitive vegetable. India is the world's second-largest grower, and its stored rabi onion supplies the country for half the year.
- Non-Basmati RiceNon-basmati rice is India's staple grain, eaten daily by hundreds of millions of people and bought on a huge scale by the government for the ration system. India is the world's largest rice exporter, shipping raw, parboiled and broken rice.
- CottonIndia is one of the world's two largest cotton producers and has the largest cotton area. Cotton feeds the whole textile chain, from gins and spinning mills to garment exporters.
- MaizeMaize is India's fastest-growing cereal. Poultry and cattle feed take the largest share, followed by starch mills and, increasingly, ethanol distilleries, with a smaller share eaten as food.
- OrangeIndia's citrus trade is led by the Nagpur mandarin (santra) of Vidarbha and the Kinnow of Punjab and Rajasthan, with hill mandarins in Kodagu and the Northeast.
Ports and Logistics
Most trade crosses at land ports such as Petrapole–Benapole, Hili and Ghojadanga, and by rail. Bangladesh's import duties and import permits for onion, potato and other crops change with its own harvests, so Indian traders watch Dhaka's policy closely.
How Exports Work
Exporters register with APEDA (for most farm and processed foods), the Spices Board, the Coffee or Tea Boards, or IOPEPC, depending on the product. Shipments need a phytosanitary certificate from India's plant quarantine service, a certificate of origin, and any health or residue certificates required by Bangladesh. India's export policy for some crops, such as onion, rice and wheat, changes often, so exporters check the current DGFT notifications before signing contracts.
- APEDAExport registration and promotionAboutExplore
- Directorate of Plant Protection, Quarantine and StoragePhytosanitary certificatesAboutExplore
- DGFTExport policy notificationsAboutExplore
Related: All export markets · All crops
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