India’s meat exports cross $5 billion as global demand rises

NEW DELHI: India’s buffalo meat export industry has staged a strong revival after years of declining shipments and prices, with export earnings now surpassing $5 billion, The Indian Express reported.

Buffalo meat exports were valued at $4.8 billion in 2014-15, when the average export price stood at around $3,240 per tonne. Export volumes and realisations declined in the following years before the sector began recovering in 2024-25.

The average unit value rose from $3,236 per tonne in 2024-25 to $3,591 in 2025-26 and climbed further to $4,392 per tonne during April-June 2026, indicating stronger prices for Indian buffalo meat in international markets.

India has also diversified its export destinations significantly over the past decade. In 2014-15, Vietnam accounted for around $2.2 billion of the country’s buffalo meat exports, while Malaysia, Egypt, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria and the Philippines were among the other leading buyers.

By 2025-26, 10 countries were importing more than $100 million worth of Indian buffalo meat each. Major markets included Vietnam, Egypt, Malaysia, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, Indonesia, Iraq, the Philippines and Jordan, while several other countries have emerged as growing destinations.

The report also highlighted the industry’s link with India’s dairy sector. India does not permit beef exports, while buffalo meat is sourced largely from animals that are no longer productive for dairy farming, including older, infertile and male buffaloes.

Selling such animals provides farmers with an additional source of income and can help finance the replacement of ageing or low-yielding animals with younger, more productive dairy stock.

With India home to around 11 crore buffaloes, the export industry remains closely connected to the country’s wider dairy economy and livestock sector.