India’s poultry exports have witnessed a remarkable resurgence, more than doubling to USD 149 million in the first half of FY26 on the back of strong demand from the Middle East. This is a sharp jump from USD 71.16 million recorded during the same period last year. In rupee terms, exports touched INR 1,288.63 crore, reflecting the sector’s robust revival.
The surge has been driven primarily by growing egg shipments to the United Arab Emirates and Oman. Traditionally, Oman was India’s top buyer, but this year UAE has emerged as the largest importer, according to DGCIS data. Valsan Parameswaran, Secretary of the All India Poultry Exporters Association, noted that UAE’s acceptance of Indian eggs has grown rapidly after opening its market last year, supported by consistent quality standards.
Global supply disruptions have also favoured India. Production challenges in Turkey and Iran — key suppliers to the Middle East — tightened availability, boosting India’s export opportunities. Turkey additionally diverted part of its supplies to the US, which faced domestic shortages, creating further gaps in the Middle Eastern market. India even supplied one crore eggs to the US in June for the first time, although no subsequent orders followed.
Beyond the Gulf, markets such as Japan and Indonesia have shown rising interest in Indian eggs and egg products. Exporters expect this momentum to continue through January, making FY26 a strong year for poultry shipments.
India had seen a 9% decline in poultry exports in 2024–25, but rising global demand appears to be reversing that trend. With total egg production reaching 142.77 billion in 2023–24 — and major contributions from Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, West Bengal and Karnataka — India is well-positioned to meet growing international demand.
