India’s Buffalo Meat Exports Cross $5 Billion as New Markets Boost Global Demand

New Delhi: India’s buffalo meat export industry is emerging as one of the country’s strongest agricultural export performers, with shipments crossing the $5-billion mark for the first time in 2025-26.

According to data cited from the Department of Commerce, India’s buffalo meat exports increased by 25.6% to $5.1 billion during 2025-26, compared with the previous year. The growth has continued into the current financial year, with exports rising sharply during the first quarter.

Between April and June 2026, buffalo meat exports increased by 66.6%, from $896.8 million during the same period in 2025 to nearly $1.5 billion.

A Commerce Ministry official said India had crossed the $5-billion mark for the first time in the previous financial year and was on track to exceed $6 billion in 2026-27.

But the growth is not only about the total value of exports. One of the more significant developments has been the increase in the amount Indian exporters are earning per tonne.

Higher value realisation

India’s buffalo meat exports had previously experienced a period of decline in both quantity and value.

In 2014-15, India exported around 14.8 lakh tonnes of buffalo meat worth $4.8 billion. The average value was approximately $3,240 per tonne.

Over the following years until 2023-24, both export quantity and value declined, while the average realisation remained in the range of roughly $2,700-$3,000 per tonne.

The recovery began in 2024-25, when exports reached $4.1 billion and the average value rose to $3,236 per tonne.

The improvement continued in 2025-26, when the average value increased to $3,591 per tonne. During April-June 2026, it climbed further to $4,392 per tonne.

The increase in unit value is being seen as an indication of improving international acceptance of Indian buffalo meat.

A Commerce Ministry official attributed the improvement partly to government regulations governing export facilities. Buffalo meat exports are permitted from plants registered with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), subject to safety, hygiene and infrastructure requirements.

The official said compliance is also monitored through periodic and surprise inspections.

India currently has 83 APEDA-approved integrated abattoirs-cum-meat processing plants, each capable of handling between 500 and 2,000 buffaloes per day. There are also five standalone slaughterhouses and 10 meat processing plants registered by APEDA for exports.

India expands its global market

The export story is also being driven by the diversification of markets.

For several years, Vietnam was the dominant destination for Indian buffalo meat. In 2014-15, Vietnam accounted for around 45% of India’s $4.8-billion buffalo meat exports, with shipments worth approximately $2.2 billion.

Malaysia, Egypt, Thailand, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria and the Philippines were among the other major destinations at the time.

The picture has changed considerably by 2025-26.

Out of India’s total $5.1-billion buffalo meat exports, 10 countries imported more than $100 million worth of the product each.

Vietnam remained the largest destination with imports worth $933.9 million, followed by Egypt at $725 million and Malaysia at $654.1 million.

The UAE imported $444.2 million worth, while Saudi Arabia accounted for $359.3 million.

Other major destinations included Uzbekistan with $307 million, Indonesia with $301.3 million, Iraq with $300.1 million, the Philippines with $176.6 million and Jordan with $105.5 million.

The emergence of new markets is particularly significant.

According to the Commerce Ministry official cited in the report, Uzbekistan is a new market, while Russia, Georgia, Oman and Senegal have also become significant buyers.

Exports to Russia stood at $97.5 million, while Georgia imported $70.5 million, Oman $82.7 million and Senegal $70.9 million.

This wider geographical reach reduces the industry's dependence on a small number of destinations and gives Indian exporters access to a broader international customer base.

Closing the gap with Brazilian beef

Indian buffalo meat, commonly referred to as carabeef, has traditionally been sold at a discount compared with Brazilian beef.

The report notes that Indian buffalo meat was previously exported at around $3,000 per tonne, compared with approximately $5,000 per tonne for Brazilian beef.

That price gap has now narrowed to around $500-$700 per tonne, according to an industry representative.

Fauzan Alavi, secretary of the All-India Buffalo and Sheep Meat Exporters Association, said the industry has been working to establish Indian buffalo meat as a global brand rather than simply positioning it as a cheaper alternative to cattle beef.

He attributed the progress to growing international recognition of Indian product quality and safety standards.

India is currently the world’s third-largest bovine meat exporter.

For 2026, India’s projected export volume is around 17 lakh tonnes in carcass-weight equivalent, behind Brazil at 42.8 lakh tonnes and Australia at 21.6 lakh tonnes, according to US Department of Agriculture data.

The country's leading exporters include Mumbai-based Allanasons Private Ltd, Abu Dhabi-headquartered Fair Exports India, which is owned by the LuLu Group, and Agra-based HMA Agro Industries.

From bulk exports to retail products

Another area where exporters are looking to increase value is the retail market.

Indian buffalo meat is widely used in processed food products such as sausages, burger patties, emulsified nuggets, canned products and ready-to-eat foods.

Traditionally, a significant portion of exports has been shipped in large 20-30 kg frozen blocks for industrial use.

The industry is now attempting to increase value realisation by expanding retail sales, including consumer packs weighing 1 kg or less.

Such a shift could allow exporters to target consumers more directly instead of depending primarily on bulk industrial buyers.

APEDA has also introduced a Rs 250-per-tonne levy on frozen and chilled buffalo meat exports. The proceeds are being directed towards a Meat Export Development Fund.

The fund is intended to support export promotion activities, including trade delegations, international buyer-seller meetings and efforts to overcome non-tariff barriers in overseas markets.

How buffalo meat exports support dairy farmers

The growth of buffalo meat exports has another important dimension for India: its relationship with the dairy economy.

The report argues that the meat industry can provide farmers with a market for buffaloes that are no longer productive enough for dairy purposes.

India does not permit the export of beef from cattle. Buffalo meat exports, or carabeef exports, involve buffaloes that may have reached the end of their productive milk-giving period, become infertile, developed damaged udders or are male animals.

For dairy farmers, maintaining such animals can become economically difficult because they continue to consume fodder, feed, water and labour that could otherwise be directed towards productive animals.

The meat market can therefore provide farmers with an economic return from animals that are no longer suitable for productive dairy operations.

A buffalo weighing around 400 kg can yield roughly 125 kg of meat, while the remaining weight consists of bones, hide, edible and non-edible offals, blood, horns, hooves and other material.

Based on an average boneless meat yield of around 100 kg, annual exports of 14-15 lakh tonnes would correspond to the culling of approximately 1.4-1.5 crore animals.

India had around 11 crore buffaloes, according to the 2019 Livestock Census.

The report argues that the availability of a market for older or low-yielding animals allows dairy farmers to replace them with younger, higher-producing buffaloes.

Why buffaloes matter to India’s dairy economy

The relationship between buffaloes and the dairy economy could become even more important as demand for high-fat dairy products grows.

According to R.S. Sodhi, former managing director of the Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation, demand for high-fat milk is growing at roughly twice the rate of normal toned milk.

Products such as ghee, cream, paneer, ice cream and khoa-based sweets are also seeing increased demand.

These products require milk with higher fat content, which is supplied significantly by buffaloes.

Dairy plants in Uttar Pradesh are currently procuring buffalo milk at around Rs 880-920 per kg of fat.

For milk containing 6.5% fat, that translates into approximately Rs 59-62 per litre.

The report says that an average realisation of around Rs 60 per litre from milk, combined with approximately Rs 50,000 from the sale of an old or unproductive buffalo, can provide farmers with an economic incentive to maintain buffaloes and expand dairy production.

Industry seeks policy stability

Despite the positive export figures, the industry is seeking greater policy predictability.

Exporters have raised concerns about the closure of several meat-processing plants in Uttar Pradesh.

Five plants named in the report — A.Q. Frozen Foods in Amroha, Al-Falah Global and Al-Rehman Frozen Foods in Sambhal, Al Haq Foods in Unnao and Omar International in Bijnor — have reportedly been shut down despite meeting APEDA registration requirements.

An industry source said exporters support the government’s position against illegal slaughterhouses and the culling of cattle, but expressed concern when local officials allegedly apply rules differently from those set by the state administration.

For the industry, maintaining clear and predictable regulations will be important if India is to continue expanding its presence in international buffalo meat markets.

A growing export opportunity

India’s buffalo meat export industry has undergone a notable transformation over the past few years.

Exports have crossed $5 billion, average value realisation per tonne has increased, and the number of important international markets has expanded.

The emergence of buyers such as Uzbekistan, Russia, Georgia, Oman and Senegal alongside established markets demonstrates the industry's broader international reach.

At the same time, the industry remains closely connected with India’s dairy economy. By providing a market for older, infertile or otherwise unproductive buffaloes, meat exports can help farmers recover part of their investment and replace ageing animals with more productive stock.

With exports already approaching $5.1 billion in 2025-26 and further growth recorded in the first quarter of 2026-27, the buffalo meat sector is positioning itself as an increasingly important part of India’s agricultural export story.

The key challenge ahead will be maintaining product quality, expanding markets, ensuring regulatory consistency and increasing the value earned from every tonne exported.