Fox Nuts (Makhana) Export from India to Global Markets

Key Highlights

• India's Makhana exports rose from 6,700 MT in 2020 to 25,130 MT in 2024.
• Bihar contributes around 90% of India's Makhana production.
• The US, Canada and UAE account for over three-fourths of export share.
• Germany and Australia offer higher average realisations.
• Larger 6 and 7 Suta grades target premium markets.
• Roasted, flavoured and organic Makhana offer value-added opportunities.
• Makhana flour opens another export product category.
• Consistent quality and supply will be crucial as demand grows.

Introduction:

Makhana exports from India have always had a strong connection with Bihar, where it is grown, harvested and processed in large quantities. What has changed in recent years is where the product is going.

A snack that was once largely known within India is now gradually showing up in overseas markets as a healthy snack which is not just plant-based, but also serves as a superfood. Indian exporters are shipping Makhana to the United States, Canada, the UAE, the UK, Australia and European markets, with some of these destinations already accounting for a sizable share of India's export business.

The growth has been quite remarkable. According to the APEDA-Crisil Intelligence Makhana dashboard, India's Makhana exports increased from 6,700 MT in 2020 to 25,130 MT in 2024. That is almost four times the volume in four years.

That growth has made Fox Nuts exports from India a much more interesting part of the country's food export story.

India has built a much larger Makhana supply base

Before looking at overseas buyers, it helps to understand what has happened on the production side. Let us look at the statistical data.

India's cultivated Makhana area has expanded considerably over the past few years. The report from APEDA-Crisil estimates that the area under cultivation increased from around 25,000-27,000 hectares in the year 2020 to 35,000–40,000 hectares in the year 2025. Seed production has risen even faster and has reached an estimated 110,000–120,000 MT in the year 2025.

Bihar remains at the centre of the industry. The state contributes around 90% of India's Makhana production and roughly 80-85% of global supply. Traditional pond cultivation is still widespread, although field-based farming and integrated Makhana-fish systems are also gaining ground. Improved varieties such as Swarna Vaidehi and Sabour Makhana-1 have added to the productivity gains.

There is still plenty of manual work involved, particularly at harvest. Makhana seeds are collected from the pond bed after the fruits burst underwater, which is a strenuous process and one of the reasons labour and processing efficiency remain important issues for the industry.

So the export story is being built on a supply chain that is itself changing.

Makhana exports from India have moved sharply higher

The export trajectory tells its own story.

India shipped around 6,700 MT of Makhana in 2020. By 2023, exports had crossed 20,000 MT, and 2024 ended at 25,130 MT. The APEDA-Crisil dashboard describes the increase as a nearly fourfold rise over the period.

The 2025 figure in the report is 18,150 MT for January to October, so it should in any way not be compared directly with the full-year 2024 number. The report expected exports for 2025 to remain below the previous year's peak, with US tariffs and price pressure affecting the trade.

There is another change happening underneath those headline volumes.

Not all Makhana is treated as the same product. Size matters. The report classifies 12-15 mm kernels as 4 Suta, 15-18 mm as 5 Suta, 18-21 mm as 6 Suta and kernels above 21 mm as 7 Suta. The larger 6 and 7 Suta grades sit towards the premium end and are particularly relevant for export and value-added products.

For a business planning to export fox nuts from India, this distinction is important. An overseas buyer may have a very specific requirement on size, appearance, processing or grade rather than simply asking for Makhana by the tonne.

Who are the global fox nuts importers buying from India?

The United States is comfortably ahead of the other destinations.

The APEDA-Crisil dashboard puts the US at 40% of India's Makhana imports in its 2025 market assessment. Canada follows at 20%, while the UAE accounts for 17%. Together, those three markets make up 77% of the import share shown in the report. The UK follows at 10%.

But there is another side to these numbers that is worth looking at.

The biggest markets are not necessarily the ones paying the highest prices. The report puts the average unit price at about $19.5/kg in the US, $15.8/kg in Canada and $13.3/kg in the UAE. Smaller markets such as Germany and Australia show higher average realisations, at about $26/kg and $21/kg respectively.

For global fox nuts buyers , that creates an interesting split: a few markets provide the volume, while some smaller destinations may offer more room for premium products.

Global Fox Nuts Importers Buying from India

The United States is the main market for Indian Makhana

It is difficult to talk about Makhana exports from India without starting with the US.

The market already has a large Indian and South Asian food presence, so Makhana does not have to enter as a completely unfamiliar product. At the same time, the snack fits neatly into several trends that have been growing in the American food market — plant-based eating, gluten-free products, clean-label foods and healthier snacking.

The APEDA-Crisil report also points to organic retail and online platforms as areas with potential for Makhana, with organic certification offering an opportunity to move towards premium pricing.

There is plenty of room here for different kinds of businesses. One buyer may want bulk popped Makhana for further processing. Another may be looking for roasted or flavoured snack products. A retailer may be more interested in finished consumer packs.

For Indian exporters, the US currently offers something that is hard to ignore: a large established market and an audience that is already familiar with Indian food products.

Canada and the UK have their own advantages

Canada is the second-largest destination in the APEDA-Crisil market assessment, accounting for 20% of India's Makhana imports. The report groups Canada with Australia and South Africa as markets with promising potential, particularly because of Indian diaspora demand and growing interest in organic and clean-label snacks.

The UK is smaller than the US and Canada in terms of share, but its position is interesting. It accounts for 10% of the import share in the report, while the average unit price is around $20/kg.

For exporters, these markets can work particularly well when Makhana is presented as a packaged snack rather than simply as an agricultural commodity.

Ethnic food stores provide one route in. Mainstream supermarkets and health-food retailers provide another.

The UAE is already a major Makhana destination

The UAE accounts for 17% of India's Makhana import share in the dashboard, putting it third after the US and Canada.

The market has an obvious connection with Indian food products, but there is more to the opportunity than the expatriate consumer base.

Makhana fits the UAE's premium and health-focused retail segments as well. The report specifically points to hypermarkets such as Carrefour, Lulu and Spinneys and suggests flavoured variants — including spicy, masala and cheese flavours — as possible ways of adapting the product to local preferences.

This is also where value addition starts becoming commercially interesting.

Selling plain popped Makhana is one business. Selling roasted, seasoned and branded Makhana in retail-ready packaging is another. The second requires more processing and marketing, but it can also move the product away from a straightforward commodity sale.

Europe could be particularly interesting for premium Makhana

European markets are smaller in India's current export mix, but some of them are showing attractive pricing.

Germany recorded the highest average unit price among the destinations covered in the APEDA-Crisil dashboard, at around $26/kg. Australia was around $21/kg and the Netherlands around $20/kg. Their shares of India's Makhana imports are much smaller than those of the US or Canada.

The report identifies Germany, the Netherlands and France, along with the UK, as promising European destinations. Demand for plant-based and gluten-free snacks, organic retail and online food platforms are among the factors supporting the opportunity. The Netherlands and Belgium could also act as useful entry points for reaching other parts of the EU.

For Indian exporters, this is where premiumisation could make a real difference.

Larger kernels, organic certification, better packaging and ready-to-eat formats can all help a supplier move towards buyers who are less focused purely on price.

Southeast Asia is another market worth exploring

Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand are also on the radar for Indian Makhana exporters.

The APEDA-Crisil report describes Southeast Asia as a region where health-conscious urban consumers are creating demand for lighter snack products. Singapore is particularly interesting because of its role as a trading and re-export hub for the wider ASEAN region.

That gives Indian suppliers another possible route into the region.

The product may also need a different presentation here. Smaller packs suited to convenience stores and retail shelves can make more sense than simply taking a bulk product into the market and expecting consumers to understand it immediately.

The product is moving beyond plain popped Makhana

One of the more interesting developments in the Makhana business is the shift towards value-added products.

The APEDA-Crisil report highlights roasted, flavoured, organic and functional Makhana variants as areas with export potential across the US, EU, Middle East and Southeast Asia.

That shift is already visible in the way the product is being discussed internationally.

Makhana can be sold as a traditional food product, but it can also be positioned as a modern snack. That opens up completely different conversations with retailers, food brands and distributors.

The introduction of dedicated HS codes in July 2025 should also make the trade easier to track. Makhana had previously been exported under HS 19041090. The newer codes include 20081921 for popped Makhana, 20081922 for Makhana flour and powder, and 20081929 for other Makhana products.

That may become increasingly useful as the category develops and more value-added products enter international trade.

India's domestic market is growing at the same time

Exports are only part of the Makhana story.

The APEDA-Crisil report estimates that around 60% of India's Makhana production is consumed domestically, with roughly 40% going into exports. Domestic demand has grown strongly in recent years, helped by health awareness, premiumisation and the emergence of branded snack companies.

That domestic market gives processors an important alternative to exports.

It also explains some of the pressure on prices. Average domestic Makhana prices have moved from around ₹500/kg in 2020-22 to about ₹1,250/kg in 2025. The higher 6 and 7 Suta grades have continued to command a premium, reflecting their suitability for premium snacks and export-oriented products.

For exporters, rising domestic demand can be a double-edged situation. It creates a strong home market for processors, but it also means overseas buyers are competing with domestic demand for available supply.

What does this mean for Makhana exporters?

For anyone looking at Makhana exports from India , the overseas market is no longer an experiment.

The US, Canada and UAE have already become the main destinations, together accounting for more than three-quarters of India's Makhana import share in the APEDA-Crisil assessment. The UK is also sizable, while Germany, Australia and the Netherlands stand out for the higher unit values seen in the report.

The next opportunity may therefore be less about simply pushing more volume into the same markets.

There is a good case for looking at what sits inside that volume.

A larger 6 or 7 Suta kernel can be sold differently from a standard grade. Organic Makhana can target another buyer. Roasted and flavoured products can move into snack aisles rather than remaining in the traditional dry-food category. Makhana flour opens another product route altogether.

The supply side will have to keep pace, though. Makhana cultivation remains concentrated in Bihar, harvesting is labour-intensive and the crop is sensitive to water availability and weather conditions. The report also highlights climate and supply risks that could affect availability in future seasons.

So finding international buyers is only one part of the export equation. Consistent quality and dependable supply will matter just as much.

India has a product with room to travel much further

Makhana has come a long way from being a largely regional Indian crop.

India has the production base, Bihar has an enormous share of global supply, and export volumes have already risen sharply. At the other end of the chain, buyers in North America, the Gulf, Europe and Asia are becoming more familiar with the product.

For businesses searching for global fox nuts importers, the US, Canada and UAE are the obvious starting points. For global fox nuts buyers looking at premium products, markets such as Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and the UK deserve a closer look.

And the opportunity in global fox nuts markets may eventually stretch well beyond plain popped Makhana.

Roasted and flavoured snacks, organic products, Makhana flour and other value-added formats can take the product into categories where Indian suppliers are no longer competing simply on the price of a kilogram.

That may be the more interesting chapter ahead for Makhana: India has already shown that the world will buy the product. The next challenge is getting more value from every market, every grade and every form in which Makhana reaches the consumer.

Disclaimer

This content is for general informational purposes and is based on the APEDA-Crisil Intelligence dashboard and other trade data cited in the source material. Export volumes, market shares, prices, HS classifications and market conditions can change. Exporters should independently verify current buyer requirements, regulations, product classifications and commercial terms before making trade decisions.