India's Farm Trade with United States
The USA buys Indian spices, basmati rice, cashew kernels, guar gum, castor oil, honey, mango products, psyllium husk and many processed foods.
Main Indian Farm Products Bought by United States
- Guar (Cluster Bean)Guar is a drought-hardy legume of western Rajasthan whose seed gives guar gum, a thickener used in food, cosmetics, paper, textiles and especially oil and gas drilling. India supplies most of the world's guar gum. Tender guar pods are also eaten as a vegetable.
- CastorCastor is a non-edible oilseed whose oil goes into lubricants, paints, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and bio-chemicals. India supplies most of the world's castor oil.
- CashewIndia grows raw cashew along its coasts, imports more from Africa, and processes it into kernels in Kollam, Mangaluru, Panruti and Palasa.
- HoneyIndia is one of the world's leading honey producers and exporters. Beekeeping also raises crop yields through pollination, and the government promotes it under the National Beekeeping and Honey Mission.
- Isabgol (Psyllium)Isabgol (psyllium) husk is a natural dietary fibre sold worldwide as a laxative and health supplement. India grows and processes most of the world's psyllium, centred on North Gujarat and western Rajasthan, with Unjha as the processing hub.
- Basmati RiceBasmati is a long-grain, aromatic rice that may be sold under that name only if grown in the GI region at the foot of the Himalaya. It is India's most valuable farm export, sold to more than a hundred countries.
Ports and Logistics
Food exports to the USA must meet FDA rules, including facility registration and residue limits. Mangoes need irradiation, and organic products need recognised certification.
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 United States. 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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