India's poultry exports are on track to achieve a new record, projected between ₹1,200 crore to ₹1,400 crore for the financial year 2023-24, driven by substantial demand from Oman, Sri Lanka, and other countries. The previous financial year 2022-23 saw exports hitting a high of ₹1,081 crore ($134.04 million), a significant jump from ₹529.8 crore ($71 million) in the year prior. By the end of December in the current fiscal year, poultry exports had already matched the previous year's full-year value at ₹1,074 crore ($134.02 million), with shipment volumes escalating to 8.56 lakh tonnes compared to 6.64 lakh tonnes in the previous financial year.
Sri Lanka has notably become the second-largest importer of Indian poultry products, with the value of exports surging to ₹117.19 crore up until December from just ₹98 lakh in the entire fiscal year of 2022-23. This dramatic increase is reflected in the volume of shipments to Sri Lanka, which soared to 1.69 lakh tonnes from just 1,416 tonnes in the previous year. Oman remains the top importer of Indian poultry, with exports valued at ₹293.90 crore up to December, slightly up from ₹277 crore in the entire previous year. Other countries showing significant growth in imports of Indian poultry include Japan, with exports reaching ₹82.91 crore (up from ₹57.77 crore in 2022-23) and Qatar at ₹63.38 crore (up from ₹51.60 crore).
The growth in exports is attributed to robust international demand, enhanced quality awareness among Indian farmers and traders, and the need for additional infrastructure such as dedicated quality laboratories, particularly in Tamil Nadu's Namakkal region. The industry anticipates further growth in exports, exploring opportunities in African countries and a potential new market in Russia. After a low of ₹435 crore ($58.70 million) in 2020-21, Indian poultry exports have rebounded sharply in the past three years, underlining the sector's resilience and potential for further expansion.