Global Appetite for Indian Delicacies Soars
India's food and beverage exporters are witnessing a robust increase in international procurement ahead of the Diwali festive season. Demand is particularly high for traditional Indian sweets (mithai), savouries (namkeens), rice, and spices. Concurrently, there's a significant uptick in global interest for ready-to-eat (RTE) and ready-to-cook (RTC) Indian food products.
A recent survey conducted by the Trade Promotion Council of India (TPCI) indicates a stable-to-moderate growth in festive demand, averaging around 6% over the previous year. Notably, specific markets and product categories are reporting growth exceeding 15%.
Convenience Foods Drive New Growth
While classic items like kaju katli, laddoo, halwa, bhujia, mixture, and murukku remain popular, convenience foods are emerging as a substantial growth area. European buyers, for instance, have reported approximately 25% year-on-year growth in ready-to-eat food imports, signaling broader acceptance of Indian packaged foods beyond traditional diaspora consumers.
This trend is reflected in India’s processed food export figures. Exports of RTE and cooked food products climbed 16% to reach $2.4 billion in the fiscal year 2025-26, up from $2.1 billion in the preceding year.
GCC Markets Lead Festive Orders
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region has solidified its position as a crucial market for Indian festive food exports. Buyers in countries such as Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain are demonstrating sustained procurement across a wide range of products, including sweets, dry fruits, savouries, rice, spices, ghee, pickles, and convenience foods.
According to TPCI, a Kuwaiti buyer reported an impressive 28% year-on-year growth. TPCI Chairman Mohit Singla highlighted that these encouraging demand signals underscore a dual trend: strong demand for traditional products combined with the rapid emergence of RTE and RTC foods.
Expanding Opportunities and Persistent Challenges
The growing interest in convenience foods opens new avenues for exporters, encompassing frozen snacks, festive mixes, prepared meals, instant mixes, curries, Indian breads, cooked rice, and shelf-stable options. European markets, in particular, are showing interest in organic, vegan, health-oriented, frozen, and RTE products that adhere to international food-safety and labeling standards.
This broader opportunity extends beyond the Indian diaspora, as Indian flavors increasingly penetrate mainstream international retail and foodservice channels. However, exporters continue to navigate challenges such as high freight and container costs, customs delays, stringent food-safety compliance, limited shelf life, and geopolitical disruptions.
Singla suggests that the current festive season momentum offers a chance for exporters to transition from commodity shipments towards developing value-added products and globally recognized Indian food brands.