India’s food industry isn't just booming—it's exploding from a $263 billion processing behemoth into a projected $535 billion powerhouse within five years, reshaping what, how, and where the nation eats.
Key Takeaways
- The Indian food processing sector market size reached USD 263 billion in FY2023 and is expected to grow to USD 535 billion by FY2028 at a CAGR of 15.3%
- India's packaged food market was valued at USD 59.4 billion in 2022, projected to reach USD 110.8 billion by 2027 growing at CAGR of 13.2%
- The organized food retail sector in India grew to USD 50 billion in 2023 from USD 35 billion in 2020, with a CAGR of 12.6%
- The Indian food processing industry contributes 1.69% to GDP in FY2023, up from 1.5% in FY2020
- India produced 331 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2022-23, including 135 MT rice and 112 MT wheat
- Milk production in India reached 221 million tonnes in 2022-23, accounting for 24% of global production
- India's per capita milk availability increased to 444 grams/day in 2022-23 from 428 in previous year
- Urban India consumes 65% of packaged foods, with average household spending INR 5,000/month on processed foods in 2023
- India's per capita egg consumption rose to 108 eggs/year in 2023 from 90 in 2020
- India's food processing exports reached USD 20.1 billion in FY2023, growing 12% YoY
- USA imported USD 2.5 billion worth of Indian processed foods in 2022-23, mainly shrimps and nuts
- India's basmati rice exports hit 4.8 million tonnes valued USD 4.8 billion in FY2023
- India's food processing industry employs 7.5 million people directly in FY2023
- Investment in food processing sector reached INR 50,000 crore in FY2023, FDI USD 12 billion cumulative
- 25,000 food processing units operational in India 2023, MSMEs 90% employing 2 million
India's food industry is booming with rapid growth across all segments.
Consumption Patterns
- India's per capita milk availability increased to 444 grams/day in 2022-23 from 428 in previous year
- Urban India consumes 65% of packaged foods, with average household spending INR 5,000/month on processed foods in 2023
- India's per capita egg consumption rose to 108 eggs/year in 2023 from 90 in 2020
- Meat consumption per capita in India is 4.5 kg/year in 2023, poultry 2.8 kg dominating non-veg
- 72% of Indian households consume biscuits weekly, average 2 kg/month per urban family in 2023
- India's soft drink consumption reached 15 billion litres in 2022, per capita 10.5 litres annually
- Snack consumption in India averages 150g/person/week, namkeen 40% share in urban areas 2023
- Dairy consumption breakdown: liquid milk 85%, curd 10%, others 5% in FY2023 households
- 45% of Indians consume ready-to-eat meals monthly, urban millennials 70% adoption in 2023
- Edible oil consumption in India hit 25 million tonnes in 2022-23, palm oil 9 MT imported dominant
- Fruit consumption per capita in India is 85 kg/year in 2023, bananas 40 kg leading
- Vegetable intake averages 140 kg/capita/year, potato 40 kg, onion 15 kg in FY2023
- Tea consumption in India reached 1.2 billion kg in 2022, per capita 837g annually
- 28% of Indian consumers prefer organic foods in 2023, spending average INR 1,500/month
- Instant noodles consumption 7.5 billion packs in FY2023, per capita 5 packs/year urban
- Nutraceutical consumption grew 15% to USD 4.5 billion in 2023, 25% urban penetration
- Pet food consumption in India 250,000 tonnes in 2023, dogs 60% share urban households
- 55% households buy packaged spices, average 2 kg/month consumption in 2023 survey
- Bread consumption per capita 2.5 kg/year in urban India 2023, growing 10% YoY
- Sugar consumption 20 kg/capita/year in India 2023, beverages 30% share
- Frozen food consumption doubled to 1 million tonnes in urban India 2023
- Plant-based milk consumption 50,000 tonnes in 2023, almond and soy leading urban trend
- Confectionery consumption 2.5 kg/capita/year in 2023, chocolate 1 kg urban kids
- Health drinks consumed by 35% kids under 14, market 1.2 billion litres in 2023
- Seafood consumption per capita 8.9 kg/year in coastal states, national average 2.5 kg 2023
Consumption Patterns Interpretation
India is becoming a nation of dairy-powered snackers, with urban appetites driving a massive packaged food economy, yet we still find room for an egg and a quiet cup of tea.
Employment and Investments
- India's food processing industry employs 7.5 million people directly in FY2023
- Investment in food processing sector reached INR 50,000 crore in FY2023, FDI USD 12 billion cumulative
- 25,000 food processing units operational in India 2023, MSMEs 90% employing 2 million
- Dairy industry employs 80 million farmers and 0.5 million in processing in 2023
- FDI inflows in food processing USD 11.7 billion from 2000-2023, 100% allowed under automatic route
- Poultry sector employs 6 million people in farming and processing FY2023
- Government schemes like PMFME created 2 lakh jobs in micro units by 2023, INR 2,000 crore allocated
- Fruit processing employs 0.5 million seasonal workers, 500 plants nationwide 2023
- Seafood processing exports employ 0.8 million, 400 plants in coastal states 2023
- Bakery industry has 50,000 units employing 1.2 million in FY2023
- Spices sector employs 2.5 million farmers and 0.3 million processors 2023
- Investment in cold chain infrastructure INR 10,000 crore by 2023, creating 0.4 million jobs
- Food tech startups 3,500 in number, employing 0.2 million youth in 2023, USD 1.5 billion funding
- Organic farming employs 2 million farmers on 2.8 million ha certified land 2023
- Mega food parks 22 operational, investing INR 5,000 crore employing 1 lakh direct
- Snack food manufacturing 4,000 units employ 0.6 million in organized sector 2023
- Nutraceutical industry 50 plants employ 50,000 skilled workers FY2023
- Ready-to-eat processing 1,200 units employ 0.15 million, exports driving growth
- Sugar mills 520 operational employ 0.5 million seasonal workers 2023 season
- Tea industry employs 1.2 million permanent and 1 million seasonal in 2023
- Coffee growers and processors employ 0.4 million in Karnataka/Kerala 2023
- Pet food manufacturing 100 units employ 20,000, growing 20% jobs YoY 2023
- Beverages industry FDI USD 2 billion 2014-2023, employing 0.3 million in bottling
Employment and Investments Interpretation
India’s food industry is a massive, multi-layered economy of its own, demonstrating that whether you're a farmer, a processor, a tech innovator, or just someone who loves a good snack, there’s a place for you at this nation's ever-expanding table.
Market Size and Growth
- The Indian food processing sector market size reached USD 263 billion in FY2023 and is expected to grow to USD 535 billion by FY2028 at a CAGR of 15.3%
- India's packaged food market was valued at USD 59.4 billion in 2022, projected to reach USD 110.8 billion by 2027 growing at CAGR of 13.2%
- The organized food retail sector in India grew to USD 50 billion in 2023 from USD 35 billion in 2020, with a CAGR of 12.6%
- India's ready-to-eat food market size stood at INR 1,200 crore in 2022 and is anticipated to hit INR 3,500 crore by 2027 at 24% CAGR
- The dairy market in India valued USD 110 billion in 2023, expected to expand to USD 180 billion by 2030 with 7.5% CAGR
- India's confectionery market reached USD 4.5 billion in 2023, projected to grow at 12% CAGR to USD 8.2 billion by 2028
- The bakery products market in India was USD 9.2 billion in FY2022, forecasted to reach USD 15.6 billion by FY2027 at 11.1% CAGR
- India's edible oils market size hit USD 22 billion in 2023, expected to grow to USD 32 billion by 2028 at 7.8% CAGR
- The frozen food market in India grew to USD 1.8 billion in 2023 from USD 1.2 billion in 2020, CAGR 14.5%
- India's meat and poultry processing market valued USD 4 billion in 2022, projected to USD 7.5 billion by 2027 at 13.4% CAGR
- The organic food market in India reached USD 1.36 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 20% CAGR to USD 4.1 billion by 2028
- India's snack food market size was USD 10.5 billion in FY2023, forecasted to USD 19.2 billion by FY2028 at 12.8% CAGR
- The beverages market in India valued USD 16.8 billion in 2023, projected to reach USD 28.4 billion by 2030 at 7.9% CAGR
- India's nutraceuticals market stood at USD 4 billion in 2022, expected to hit USD 10.3 billion by 2028 with 17.5% CAGR
- The food delivery market in India grew to USD 5.5 billion in 2023, projected to USD 12.5 billion by 2027 at 22.8% CAGR
- India's fruit processing industry market size reached USD 1.5 billion in 2023, anticipated to grow at 15% CAGR to USD 3.2 billion by 2028
- The vegetable processing market in India was USD 2.1 billion in FY2022, expected to USD 4.5 billion by FY2027 at 16.5% CAGR
- India's spices market valued USD 8 billion in exports plus domestic 2023, total market USD 18 billion growing at 10% CAGR
- The milling industry in India (rice, wheat) market size USD 25 billion in 2023, projected 8.5% CAGR to USD 38 billion by 2028
- India's food tech startups market valued USD 2.5 billion in 2023, expected to reach USD 6.8 billion by 2028 at 22% CAGR
- The plant-based food market in India hit USD 1.2 billion in 2023, forecasted to USD 3.5 billion by 2030 at 16.4% CAGR
- India's sugar industry market size USD 12 billion in 2023, projected to grow at 6% CAGR to USD 18 billion by 2028
- The seafood processing market in India valued USD 5.5 billion in 2022, expected USD 9.2 billion by 2027 at 10.8% CAGR
- India's instant noodles market reached USD 1.1 billion in 2023, growing at 11.5% CAGR to USD 2.1 billion by 2028
- The health food market in India stood at USD 3.2 billion in FY2023, projected to USD 7.4 billion by FY2028 at 18.2% CAGR
- India's pet food market grew to USD 0.8 billion in 2023 from USD 0.5 billion in 2020, CAGR 17%
- The functional food market in India valued USD 2.1 billion in 2023, expected to USD 5.6 billion by 2030 at 15.1% CAGR
- India's food preservatives market size USD 1.4 billion in 2022, projected 12.3% CAGR to USD 2.8 billion by 2027
- The ready-to-cook food market in India reached USD 0.9 billion in 2023, forecasted 25% CAGR to USD 2.9 billion by 2028
- India's food enzymes market valued USD 0.7 billion in 2023, expected to grow at 9.5% CAGR to USD 1.2 billion by 2028
Market Size and Growth Interpretation
India's food sector is a ravenous, multi-headed, multi-trillion-dollar beast whose only complaint is that we only have three meals a day to keep up with its growth.
Production Statistics
- The Indian food processing industry contributes 1.69% to GDP in FY2023, up from 1.5% in FY2020
- India produced 331 million tonnes of foodgrains in 2022-23, including 135 MT rice and 112 MT wheat
- Milk production in India reached 221 million tonnes in 2022-23, accounting for 24% of global production
- India's fruit production stood at 107.6 million tonnes in 2021-22, with mangoes at 21.8 MT and bananas 31.5 MT
- Vegetable production in India was 207 million tonnes in 2022-23, led by onion 27.5 MT and potato 53.1 MT
- India's egg production hit 138 billion in 2022-23, growing 8% YoY
- Meat production in India reached 9.17 million tonnes in 2022-23, with poultry 4.7 MT and buffalo 3.2 MT
- India's fish production was 17.4 million tonnes in 2022-23, inland 139 lakh tonnes and marine 3.5 MT
- Sugar production in India for 2022-23 season was 32.8 million tonnes from 520 mills
- Edible oil production in India was 11.2 million tonnes in 2022-23, mustard oil 3.2 MT and soy 1.8 MT
- India's rice milling capacity processed 120 million tonnes in FY2023, with 55,000 rice mills operational
- Wheat processing output in India reached 95 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 12,000 roller flour mills
- India's spice production was 10.2 million tonnes in 2021-22, chilli 2 MT and turmeric 1.1 MT leading
- Processed food production value in India hit INR 4.5 lakh crore in FY2023, up 12% YoY
- India's dairy processing capacity utilized 45% of 200 million litres/day in 2023, producing 25 MT SMP
- Fruit pulp and juice concentrate production in India was 1.2 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 500 units
- Vegetable dehydration output in India reached 0.8 million tonnes in FY2023, mainly onion and garlic
- India's bakery production volume was 12 million tonnes in 2022, biscuits 4.5 MT and bread 2.8 MT
- Poultry feed production in India stood at 28 million tonnes in 2022-23 for 1.5 billion birds
- India's cashew processing output was 0.75 million tonnes in 2022-23 from 800 units
- Frozen seafood production exported equivalent to 1.1 million tonnes in 2022-23 from processing plants
- India's ready-to-eat processed food production reached 500,000 tonnes in FY2023 from 300 companies
- Snack food manufacturing output in India was 3.5 million tonnes in 2023, extruded snacks 1.2 MT
- Organic food production area in India covered 2.8 million hectares in 2022, producing 1.5 MT certified organic
- India's malt production for beverages was 0.4 million tonnes in 2022-23 from barley crop
- Tea production in India reached 1.39 billion kg in 2022, Assam 700 million kg leading
- Coffee production in India was 3.75 lakh tonnes in 2022-23, robusta 70% share
- India's honey production stood at 1.2 lakh tonnes in 2022 from 12 million bee colonies
- Maize processing for food and feed in India processed 35 million tonnes in 2022-23
Production Statistics Interpretation
India is not just feeding itself with mountains of grain, lakes of milk, and oceans of tea, but is steadily, and with increasing spice, processing its way toward becoming the planet's indispensable pantry.
Trade and Exports
- India's food processing exports reached USD 20.1 billion in FY2023, growing 12% YoY
- USA imported USD 2.5 billion worth of Indian processed foods in 2022-23, mainly shrimps and nuts
- India's basmati rice exports hit 4.8 million tonnes valued USD 4.8 billion in FY2023
- Seafood exports from India reached USD 7.8 billion in 2022-23, frozen shrimp 65% share to USA/EU
- Processed fruits and vegetables exports USD 1.2 billion in FY2023, mango pulp 25% share
- India's meat exports (buffalo) stood at USD 3.2 billion in 2022-23 to Vietnam and Egypt
- Tea exports from India 255 million kg valued USD 830 million in 2022, Iran top destination
- Spices exports hit USD 4 billion in FY2023, USA 25% share, chilli powder leading
- Coffee exports USD 1.3 billion in 2022-23, 3.7 lakh tonnes to Italy and Germany
- Sugar exports from India 6.4 million tonnes USD 3.8 billion in 2022-23 to Indonesia
- Cashew exports USD 0.45 billion for 0.13 MT in FY2023, Vietnam processed re-export
- Ready-to-eat food exports grew 20% to USD 0.5 billion in 2023, USA 40% market
- India's bakery products exports USD 0.3 billion in 2022-23, biscuits to Middle East
- Organic products exports USD 1.2 billion in FY2023, 1.1 MT volume to USA/EU
- Snack food exports USD 0.8 billion in 2023, ethnic snacks to USA diaspora
- Dairy exports (SMP, ghee) USD 0.2 billion in 2022-23 to UAE and Africa
- Frozen vegetable exports 0.25 MT USD 0.4 billion in FY2023, USA top importer
- Honey exports USD 100 million for 50,000 tonnes in 2022-23, Saudi Arabia key market
- Pickles and chutneys exports USD 150 million in 2023, UK and USA leading
- India's food imports totaled USD 25 billion in FY2023, edible oils USD 20 billion dominant
- Palm oil imports 9.5 million tonnes USD 13 billion in 2022-23, Indonesia 60% supplier
- Apple imports USD 0.8 billion 0.7 MT in FY2023, China and Chile sources
- Cashew kernel imports 0.6 MT USD 1.5 billion in 2022-23 from Vietnam
- Maize imports 2 MT USD 0.5 billion in FY2023 for poultry feed
Trade and Exports Interpretation
The world is developing quite the taste for India's pantry, from American dinner tables powered by shrimp and cashews to Iranian teapots and Italian espresso cups, even as India itself imports staggering quantities of cooking oil to fry it all up.
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