No, beef export is not banned in India. However, the beef exported by India is carabeef or the meat of water buffalo. India’s meat export policy unequivocally bans the export of boneless or carcase meat derived from cows, oxen and calves, while allowing the export of buffalo meat, poultry, sheep/goat meat and other poultry products.
The distinction in the meat export policy is a result of religious and cultural sensitivities around cows in India. As per the USDA, India is the among the largest exporters of beef in the world, due to a thriving buffalo meat or carabeef industry.
Production and Market Overview
In the financial year 2023-24, India’s animal product exports generated revenues of $4.54 billion, with 82% of the revenues coming from buffalo meat or carabeef. Buffalo meat dominates India’s meat exports, while poultry is dominant in the domestic market of India. India’s buffalo and processed meat exports have increased by 15% annually to reach 194,500 tonnes.
Vietnam is one of the largest buyers of carabeef from India. Egypt also imports a significant volume of buffalo meat from India. India is a major supplier of buffalo meat for low-income countries like Malaysia and Indonesia. Other countries where India exports carabeef include Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Maldives and United Arab Emirates.
India’s beef exports reached USD 3480 million in the year 2023. Beef exports from India had decreased in 2020, 2021 and 2022 as a result of supply chain disruptions caused by Covid-19 pandemic. Currently, India is ranked fourth in the world, in terms of beef export market value.
Domestically, the largest producer of carabeef is Uttar Pradesh, which accounts for 43% of production in India. However, the leading exporters of carabeef in the country are Maharashtra, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh.
Future Trends
As per a report by the United States Department of Agriculture or USDA, India’s carabeef exports are likely to increase by 4% and reach 1.65 million metric tonnes in 2025. According to the report, the rapid expansion in India’s carabeef exports can be attributed to three reasons.
First reason is high global demand for India’s relatively low-cost water buffalo meat. This demand is particularly strong in low and middle-income countries in Asia and the Middle East. Second reason is the huge size of water buffalo herd in India, which is the largest in the world. Third reason is the development of several export-oriented modern slaughter and packing firms in India.
