India is ramping up efforts to increase its rice exports to the Philippines, the world’s largest importer of the grain. To tap into this opportunity, a delegation of leading Indian exporters will visit Manila next month, according to commerce ministry officials.
The Philippines remains a critical market for India in agricultural trade. In 2024, the Southeast Asian nation imported agricultural goods worth about USD 20 billion, including semi-milled rice, wheat, palm oil, and food preparations. India’s exports to the Philippines were valued at USD 413 million during the same year, accounting for just 2% of the country’s total agricultural imports. Major items included bovine meat, groundnut, rice, and tobacco.
While the Philippines imported rice worth USD 2.52 billion in 2024, India — despite being the world’s largest rice exporter with USD 11.83 billion in shipments during 2024-25 — accounted for only USD 48.91 million of that share. Officials noted this highlights a major untapped opportunity for Indian exporters in the Philippine rice market.
To bridge this gap, Indian exporters will explore opportunities not just in rice but also in vegetables like onions and potatoes, groundnut, and meat during their visit. Additionally, Philippine food importers are set to participate in World Food India 2025 (September 25–28) and the International Rice Conference (October 30–31, 2025), which will be India’s largest-ever rice trade fair.
Meanwhile, India’s agricultural exports to the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) have also shown strong momentum, rising from USD 480 million in 2023-24 to USD 628 million in 2024-25. Russia remains a key driver in this growth. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) continues to leverage trade fairs like World Food Moscow to promote Indian produce and strengthen trade relationships in the region.
