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Farm produce

Export groundnut (peanut)

Bold and Java kernels from Gujarat and Rajasthan, mainly to South-East Asia. APEDA registration and an aflatoxin certificate are compulsory.

Free, with conditionsHS 1202.42
HS code
1202.42
Groundnuts, shelled (kernels), not roasted. In-shell groundnuts are 1202.41; roasted and processed peanuts fall under 2008.11.
Export policy
Free, with conditions
Free, subject to registration with APEDA and a controlled-aflatoxin certificate from an APEDA-approved laboratory (DGFT Notification 28 (RE-2012)/2009-14, 3 Jan 2013). APEDA’s Procedure for Export of Peanuts and Peanut Products applies to all countries — the October 2025 version took effect on 1 Nov 2025 and APEDA issued a further revision on 12 Aug 2026. Follow the latest version on Peanut.Net.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 691 mn
to 73 countries

What is exported

India is the world’s second-largest groundnut producer, with 130.74 lakh tonnes in 2025-26 (third advance estimate). Exports in 2025-26 were 6.64 lakh tonnes worth US$ 691 million, mainly to Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and the Philippines. Kernels are graded by count per ounce (for example 40/50, 50/60) and shipped in 50 kg bags.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Bold (runner) kernelsLarge kernels sold by count per ounce (for example 38/42, 40/50).
  • Java (Spanish) kernelsSmall round kernels (for example 50/60, 60/70, 80/90) for snacks and confectionery.
  • Red NatalRed-skinned kernels for specific Asian buyers.
  • HPS (hand-picked selected) and blanchedHPS kernels have their own line 1202 42 10; blanched and roasted go under 2008 11.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratSaurashtra — Rajkot, Junagadh, Amreli, Gondal; most shelling and grading units.
  • RajasthanBikaner and Jodhpur region.
  • Tamil Nadu and Andhra PradeshAnantapur (Kadiri varieties); Tiruvannamalai and Villupuram.
  • Madhya PradeshGrowing kharif area in the north and west of the state.

Season

Two crops: harvested in October (kharif) and March (summer), so kernels are available all year (APEDA).

Export packing

  • 25 kg and 50 kg PP or jute bags; vacuum packs for some premium buyers.
  • Aflatoxin-tested lots from units registered on APEDA’s Peanut.Net; the EU needs pre-export checks.

Who buys abroad

  • Snack and confectionery makers in Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and the Philippines
  • Oil millers and traders in China
  • Peanut-butter makers and roasters in Europe and the Gulf

The quality buyers ask for

Count
Kernels per ounce, e.g. 38/42, 40/50, 50/60, 60/70, 70/80 — Bold (runner) and Java (Spanish) types
Aflatoxin (EU)
For direct consumption: B1 2 µg/kg, total 4 µg/kg; for kernels to be sorted before use: B1 8, total 15 µg/kg (Regulation (EU) 2023/915)
Codex
Codex peanut standard (CXS 200-1995); Codex total aflatoxin limit of 15 µg/kg for peanuts for further processing (CXS 193-1995)
Moisture and defects
Moisture, damaged, shrivelled, split and foreign kernels limited in the contract; AGMARK groundnut grades (DMI)
Residues
Pesticide residues within destination MRLs

Certificates

  • APEDA Peanut.Net and aflatoxin certificateRequiredRegistration under APEDA’s peanut export procedure, with a controlled-aflatoxin certificate from an APEDA-approved lab for each lot.
  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal. Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without it.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment of plant produce, after inspection. Apply on PQMS.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • HACCPOften askedA food-safety plan that identifies hazards at each processing step and controls them. Most importers ask for it from the processing unit.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI-recognised standard asked for by UK and many EU supermarkets for private-label packing.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Kernels in 25 or 50 kg jute or PP bags: a 20-ft container typically holds about 18–20 tonnes.

How it travels

Sea freight, mainly from Mundra and Pipavav (Gujarat) and Chennai.

Storage

Cool, dry, well-ventilated stores; heat and humidity raise aflatoxin and rancidity. Some buyers want reefers for long voyages.

Shelf life

Raw kernels typically 6–12 months in good storage.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Bulk bags and cartons: product and grade, crop year, lot number, net and gross weight, “Product of India”, exporter name and the buyer’s shipping marks, matching the invoice and packing list exactly.
  • Peanut.Net lot number and lab certificate reference on the bags for traceability.
  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, and origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in both US and metric units, ingredients, allergens, name and place of business of the packer or distributor, Nutrition Facts unless exempt; and “Product of India” marking (19 CFR 134).
Where to get it tested

Aflatoxin certificates must come from laboratories approved by APEDA for peanuts — see the list of recognised laboratories on apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations, and the Peanut.Net procedure. For other tests, use an NABL-accredited lab.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • APEDA (Peanut.Net)Registration of shelling, grading and processing units and warehouses; aflatoxin testing and a Certificate of Export for each consignment through Peanut.Net. IOPEPC implements parts of this procedure for APEDA.apeda.gov.in ↗
  • Plant Quarantine (DPPQS)Phytosanitary certificate for each consignment of plant produce, applied for online on PQMS. Some markets also need the farm, packhouse or mill to be registered with Plant Quarantine.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Aflatoxin limits of the importing country, tested by an APEDA-authorised lab; stuffing certificate issued by the lab.
  • EU: health certificate in the format required by Regulation (EU) 2019/1793, which sets increased border checks for some products.
  • Indonesia and Vietnam have their own conditions (registered labs for Indonesia; methyl bromide fumigation for Vietnam) — see APEDA advisories.
How to start small

Buy from an APEDA-registered shelling-and-grading unit in Saurashtra so the lot is already traceable on Peanut.Net. Ship one container to a South-East Asian importer against LC, with the aflatoxin and stuffing certificates in place before sealing.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Rain-damaged or poorly dried kernels — aflatoxin rises and the lot fails at the lab or at destination.
  • Buying from an unregistered unit; without Peanut.Net traceability APEDA will not issue the Certificate of Export.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. APEDA — Groundnut (production, exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Peanut.Net and procedures for export of peanuts and peanut products
  3. APEDA — Procedures for export of peanuts and peanut products (Trade Notice 17 Oct 2025)

Trade data

Indian groundnut (peanut) exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 691 mn
-1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -13.1%
US$ 795 mn → US$ 691 mn
Buyer countries
73
Average export price
US$ 1.04
per kg · 6,63,810 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.07 the year before
Indonesia: US$ 172 mnVietnam: US$ 105 mnMalaysia: US$ 86.5 mnChina: US$ 45.9 mnPhilippines: US$ 44.3 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 43.1 mnThailand: US$ 39.5 mnBangladesh: US$ 25.3 mnIran: US$ 15.4 mnNepal: US$ 15.2 mnRussia: US$ 11.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 9.1 mnIraq: US$ 8.9 mnYemen: US$ 7.9 mnSingapore: US$ 7.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 7.2 mnTürkiye: US$ 4.8 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 3.4 mnDjibouti: US$ 3.3 mnAlgeria: US$ 2.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 2.7 mnKenya: US$ 2.4 mnUkraine: US$ 2.4 mnGeorgia: US$ 1.9 mnTaiwan: US$ 1.8 mnIndonesia: US$ 172 mnIndonesiaVietnam: US$ 105 mnVietnamMalaysia: US$ 86.5 mnMalaysiaChina: US$ 45.9 mnChinaPhilippines: US$ 44.3 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 43.1 mnUnited Arab EmiratesThailand: US$ 39.5 mnBangladesh: US$ 25.3 mnBangladeshIran: US$ 15.4 mnNepal: US$ 15.2 mnRussia: US$ 11.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 9.1 mnIraq: US$ 8.9 mnYemen: US$ 7.9 mnSingapore: US$ 7.3 mnSouth Africa: US$ 7.2 mnTürkiye: US$ 4.8 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 3.4 mnDjibouti: US$ 3.3 mnAlgeria: US$ 2.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 2.7 mnKenya: US$ 2.4 mnUkraine: US$ 2.4 mnGeorgia: US$ 1.9 mnTaiwan: US$ 1.8 mnIndia
Where Indian groundnut (peanut) goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 727 mn7272020-212021-22: US$ 629 mn6292021-222022-23: US$ 832 mn8322022-232023-24: US$ 862 mn8622023-242024-25: US$ 795 mn7952024-252025-26: US$ 691 mn6912025-26
India’s groundnut (peanut) exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2025-26 — a 19% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.14 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.22 per kg2022-23: US$ 1.24 per kg1.242024-25: US$ 1.07 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.04 per kg1.042020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian groundnut (peanut) · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 727 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 629 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 832 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 862 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 795 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 691 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 788 mn (US$ 659 mn – US$ 943 mn)7882026-272027-28: US$ 799 mn (US$ 655 mn – US$ 976 mn)7992027-28
India’s groundnut (peanut) exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 799 mn

Likely range US$ 655 mn to US$ 976 mn.

Trend
+1.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.05 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1IndonesiaUS$ 172 mn-38.4%
2VietnamUS$ 105 mn-4%
3MalaysiaUS$ 86.5 mn+66.6%
4ChinaUS$ 45.9 mn+312.5%
5PhilippinesUS$ 44.3 mn-33.8%
6United Arab EmiratesUS$ 43.1 mn+42.4%
7ThailandUS$ 39.5 mn-18.9%
8BangladeshUS$ 25.3 mn+44.2%
9IranUS$ 15.4 mn+46.2%
10NepalUS$ 15.2 mn+20.7%
11RussiaUS$ 11.4 mn-54.6%
12Sri LankaUS$ 9.1 mn+18.1%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. ChinaUS$ 11.1 mn → US$ 45.9 mn+312.5%
  2. South AfricaUS$ 2.6 mn → US$ 7.2 mn+176.4%
  3. MalaysiaUS$ 51.9 mn → US$ 86.5 mn+66.6%
  4. IranUS$ 10.6 mn → US$ 15.4 mn+46.2%
  5. BangladeshUS$ 17.5 mn → US$ 25.3 mn+44.2%
  6. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 30.3 mn → US$ 43.1 mn+42.4%
  7. NepalUS$ 12.6 mn → US$ 15.2 mn+20.7%
  8. Sri LankaUS$ 7.7 mn → US$ 9.1 mn+18.1%

Low demand

  1. AlgeriaUS$ 17.2 mn → US$ 2.8 mn-83.6%
  2. United KingdomUS$ 9.7 mn → US$ 1.7 mn-82.5%
  3. NetherlandsUS$ 8.6 mn → US$ 2.7 mn-69.1%
  4. RussiaUS$ 25 mn → US$ 11.4 mn-54.6%
  5. IndonesiaUS$ 279 mn → US$ 172 mn-38.4%
  6. PhilippinesUS$ 66.9 mn → US$ 44.3 mn-33.8%
  7. SingaporeUS$ 9.3 mn → US$ 7.3 mn-21.6%
  8. ThailandUS$ 48.7 mn → US$ 39.5 mn-18.9%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Ground-nuts, other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, shelled, whether or not broken, — kernels, h.p.s1202 42 10US$ 648 mn-15.3%6,15,135 tonnesUS$ 1.05 per kgwas US$ 1.07
Ground-nuts, other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, in shell — other groundnut in shell1202 41 90US$ 22.6 mn+46.1%28,654 tonnesUS$ 0.79 per kgwas US$ 0.77
Ground-nuts, other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, shelled, whether or not broken, — kernels, other1202 42 20US$ 11.9 mn+39.3%10,905 tonnesUS$ 1.09 per kgwas US$ 1.13
Others-of-ground-nut, not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken-in shelled whether or not broken1202 42 90 · Ground-nuts, other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, shelled, whether or not broken,US$ 3.5 mn-1.7%3,345 tonnesUS$ 1.04 per kgwas US$ 0.96
Ground-nuts, seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken — other groundnut seeds1202 30 90US$ 2.8 mn+280.8%2,723 tonnesUS$ 1.02 per kgwas US$ 1.05
Ground-nuts, other than seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, in shell — h.p.s1202 41 10US$ 2.2 mn+55.7%2,819 tonnesUS$ 0.77 per kgwas US$ 0.85
Ground-nuts, seed, not roasted or otherwise cooked, whether or not shelled or broken — h. p. s1202 30 10US$ 250k+66.7%230 tonnesUS$ 1.09 per kgwas US$ 1.33

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 4.32 bn
2023
India among exporters
#1
of 124 countries
India’s share of world exports
21.1%
US$ 874 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 3.26 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1IndiaUS$ 874 mn 21.1%
  2. 2ArgentinaUS$ 815 mn 19.7%
  3. 3USAUS$ 650 mn 15.7%
  4. 4BrazilUS$ 444 mn 10.7%
  5. 5NetherlandsUS$ 231 mn 5.6%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 185 mn 4.5%
  7. 7NicaraguaUS$ 128 mn 3.1%
  8. 8Viet NamUS$ 120 mn 2.9%
  9. 9SenegalUS$ 110 mn 2.6%
  10. 10EgyptUS$ 97.3 mn 2.4%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 758 mn 17.6%
  2. 2NetherlandsUS$ 561 mn 13%
  3. 3IndonesiaUS$ 374 mn 8.7%
  4. 4MexicoUS$ 243 mn 5.6%
  5. 5Viet NamUS$ 224 mn 5.2%
  6. 6GermanyUS$ 223 mn 5.2%
  7. 7United KingdomUS$ 187 mn 4.3%
  8. 8CanadaUS$ 157 mn 3.6%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 127 mn 2.9%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 99.7 mn 2.3%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

ChinaUS$ 713 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 711 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 624 mnIndia 1.7% · gap US$ 613 mn
GermanyUS$ 263 mnIndia 2.8% · gap US$ 256 mn
United KingdomUS$ 187 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 186 mn
CanadaUS$ 179 mnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 178 mn
SpainUS$ 114 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 114 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 419 mnIndia 74.6% · gap US$ 106 mn
FranceUS$ 99.3 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 99.2 mn
ItalyUS$ 94.2 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 94.1 mn
JapanUS$ 62.8 mnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 62.5 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export groundnut (peanut)

APEDA notes India is the world’s second-largest groundnut producer, and it is a major exporter of kernels. Argentina, the USA, China, Brazil and Senegal compete. Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, China and the Philippines are the main buyers (APEDA, 2025-26), using kernels for snacks, confectionery and oil. Europe pays more but has the world’s tightest aflatoxin limits. Openings are aflatoxin-controlled hand-picked selected (HPS) kernels, blanched and roasted kernels, and peanut butter.

  1. 01Register on Peanut.Net

    Register your shelling and grading unit or your supplier’s unit under APEDA’s peanut procedure.

  2. 02Fix count and aflatoxin terms

    Agree count, type, crop, moisture, aflatoxin limit and the lab with the buyer.

  3. 03Shell, grade and hand-pick

    Grade by size and remove damaged and mouldy kernels; colour sorters help cut aflatoxin.

  4. 04Sample and test each lot

    An APEDA-approved lab samples and tests aflatoxin; only passing lots get the certificate.

  5. 05Fumigate and ship

    Fumigate, stuff, get the phytosanitary certificate and file the shipping bill.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting groundnut (peanut)

What does 50/60 mean?
Between 50 and 60 kernels per ounce (about 28 g). Lower counts mean bigger kernels and higher prices.
Why is Europe so hard for groundnut?
Its aflatoxin limits are the lowest in the world (4 µg/kg total for direct consumption). Only well-sorted, well-stored lots pass.
Is the APEDA procedure only for Europe?
No. APEDA’s procedure for export of peanuts applies to all countries; check the latest trade notice on APEDA.
Bold or Java — which should I offer?
Java (small, round, sweeter) suits Southeast Asian snack makers; Bold suits roasting, butter and oil. Ask the buyer’s use.
When is the export season?
Mainly after the kharif harvest from about October, with summer-crop groundnut adding supply in spring.
Sources (7)
  1. APEDA — Groundnut profile
  2. APEDA — Peanut.Net and procedures for export of peanuts
  3. APEDA — Procedures for export of peanuts and peanut products (Trade Notice, 17 Oct 2025)
  4. EU — Regulation (EU) 2023/915 on maximum levels for contaminants in food
  5. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  6. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection — AGMARK grade standards (commodity-wise rules)
  7. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)

Who buys Indian groundnut (peanut)

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