Gulf & Middle East

Export to Yemen

Conflict-affected market that imports most of its food. Sanctions, Red Sea shipping risk and payment checks come first.

Capital: Sana’a (government based in Aden)
Currency: YER
Trade agreement with India: None
Main ports: Aden, Hodeidah, Mukalla

Yemen depends on imports for most of its food and medicines, and Indian rice, sugar and medicines have long been part of that supply. The country has been in conflict for years, control is split between authorities, and shipping in the Red Sea has faced attacks. This is not a market for a first shipment unless the buyer, bank and shipping line are all experienced with Yemen.

What it buys from India

Rice, sugar, wheat flour and other staple foods
Medicines
Garments and household goods

Import rules on their side

Commercial cargo going to ports controlled by the Sana’a-based authorities (such as Hodeidah) has been cleared through the UN Verification and Inspection Mechanism (UNVIM); your buyer or shipping line handles the application.
Food labels need Arabic, with production and expiry dates; medicines need registration through the local importer.
Expect certificates of origin, health or phytosanitary certificates and a full set of documents legalised as the buyer asks.

Practical tips

UN Security Council sanctions (resolution 2140) and US sanctions apply to named persons and groups in Yemen, including the Houthis (Ansarallah). Screen every party, and get your bank to approve the deal before shipping.
Insist on full advance payment or an LC confirmed by a bank outside Yemen. Check ECGC’s country cover before giving any credit.
Red Sea shipping has faced attacks; war-risk insurance and freight can change quickly. Confirm the route and insurance with your shipping line for each shipment.

Sources (6)

Trade data

India’s exports to Yemen in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat (Indian financial years, April–March), the country’s imports from the world from UN Comtrade, and its basics from the World Bank.

India’s exports here, 2025-26: US$ 806 mn
Change from 2024-25: ↓ -5.8%
Share of all Indian exports: 0.18%
Its imports from the world: US$ 3.13 bn

India’s exports to Yemen, year by year · US$ million · TradeStat’s 2023-24 country table is double-counted, so it is not shown

What India sells here most

By HS chapter, 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change

1Cereals (rice, wheat, maize)HS 10US$ 364 mn-9.2%

2Sugar and confectioneryHS 17US$ 78.6 mn+7%

3Medicines and pharmaHS 30US$ 67.4 mn-19.5%

4Electrical and electronicsHS 85US$ 31.1 mn+0.3%

5TobaccoHS 24US$ 26 mn+2.4%

6Knitted garmentsHS 61US$ 19.6 mn+19.2%

7PlasticsHS 39US$ 19 mn-3.1%

8Woven garmentsHS 62US$ 18.2 mn+1.4%

9Bakery and cereal foodsHS 19US$ 16.7 mn+12.5%

10Coffee, tea, spicesHS 09US$ 16.4 mn+12.9%

11MachineryHS 84US$ 14 mn-22.8%

12Ceramics and tilesHS 69US$ 11 mn+4.1%

What is rising and what is falling

Chapters where India sells at least US$ 5 million. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

RubberUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 6.8 mn+136%
FootwearUS$ 7.5 mn → US$ 9.6 mn+28%
Instruments, medical devicesUS$ 4.9 mn → US$ 6.1 mn+23.8%
Knitted garmentsUS$ 16.4 mn → US$ 19.6 mn+19.2%
Coffee, tea, spicesUS$ 14.6 mn → US$ 16.4 mn+12.9%
Bakery and cereal foodsUS$ 14.9 mn → US$ 16.7 mn+12.5%

Low demand

Paper and paperboardUS$ 12.6 mn → US$ 8 mn-36.4%
MachineryUS$ 18.2 mn → US$ 14 mn-22.8%
Medicines and pharmaUS$ 83.7 mn → US$ 67.4 mn-19.5%
Organic chemicalsUS$ 8.7 mn → US$ 7.4 mn-15.1%

Opportunity: what this country buys from the world, and from India

The country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, 2024. Chapters with the biggest gap between what it buys from the world and what it buys from India.