In 2023, India remained the eighth-largest exporter of agricultural products globally, though its exports declined from $55 billion in 2022 to $51 billion. This decline occurred amidst a broader trend of decreasing agricultural exports among leading countries.
Growth Among Top Exporters
Of the top ten agricultural exporting nations, only three experienced growth in 2023:
- Brazil: Exports increased by 6% to $157 billion.
- European Union (EU): Exports grew by 5% to $836 billion.
- Thailand: Exports rose slightly by 0.2%.
Factors Affecting Indian Exports
Several geopolitical factors contributed to India’s decline in agricultural exports:
- The Red Sea crisis
- The Russia-Ukraine war
Additionally, India’s export bans on key agricultural products exacerbated the decline:
- Wheat (May 2022)
- Non-basmati rice (July 2023)
- Sugar (October 2023)
Comparison with Other Major Exporters
Despite a decrease to $198 billion, the United States remained the second-largest agricultural exporter. China, with a slight decrease to $95 billion, held its position as the fourth-largest. Other significant exporters in the top ten included Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, and Australia.
New WTO Trade Statistics Tool
In its 2023 report, the World Trade Organization (WTO) launched an interactive platform for analyzing international trade data. This tool enables users to explore trade trends by value and volume, with filters for economy, region, and product group.
