How to Export Agricultural Products from India: A Step-by-Step Guide

India ships rice, spices, pulses, fruit, and processed foods to buyers on every continent. Agricultural and food exports grew 2.8% to $52.55 billion in FY 2025-26, according to Ministry of Commerce data. If you want to Export Agricultural Products from India, the path is clear, but it crosses several agencies. Each one wants its own registration and paperwork. Here is why that trips up new exporters: the steps depend on each other, so a delay in one holds up the rest. Let’s break it down.

Quick Answer: 8 Steps to Start Exporting Farm Produce

1. Pick your product and find out which authority regulates it.
2. Get an Import Export Code (IEC) from the DGFT.
3. Register with APEDA (or the right commodity board) and receive your RCMC.
4. Open a current account and get an AD code from your bank.
5. Meet food safety and inspection rules.
6. Get a phytosanitary certificate for plant products.
7. Pack, label, and prepare your shipping documents.
8. File the shipping bill on ICEGATE and clear customs.

Now let’s walk through each step.

Why Buyers Look to India for Agricultural Goods

India has the scale, the range, and the pricing that importers want. The Commerce Minister said in March 2026 that agricultural and processed food exports cross ₹5 lakh crore a year. Rice leads the basket, and spices, pulses, fresh fruit, and processed foods keep growing. That demand is good news for you. It also means buyers are picky, so your paperwork has to be right the first time.

Step 1: Choose Your Product and Find Its Regulator

Start with your product and its HS code. The code decides which registrations apply to you.

Most farm and food products fall under APEDA. Its scheduled list covers fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, cereals, honey, jaggery, floriculture, and bakery items. Some commodities have their own boards. Notified spices, for example, need an RCMC from the Spices Board. If you deal in more than one category, you may need more than one registration.

Check the product list on the APEDA website before you spend a rupee on anything else.

Step 2: Get Your Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT

Every exporter needs an IEC. It is a 10-digit code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade, and you apply for it online. The same source lists a ₹500 fee and a certificate issued electronically.

You will need a PAN and bank proof in the business name. A mismatch between the name on the PAN and the name on the bank account is the most common cause of delay. Check both before you apply.

The IEC is valid for life. Some guides add that you must update details on the DGFT portal each year between April and June. Confirm the current rule on the portal.

Step 3: Register with APEDA to Export Agricultural Products from India

This is the step most new exporters ask about. APEDA registration gives you the Registration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for scheduled products.

Here is how it works today:

• APEDA issues RCMCs through the DGFT portal, and you apply after you receive your IEC.
• APEDA lists the online registration fee at ₹5,900.
• Manufacturer exporters must submit manufacturing proof and, for many products, an FSSAI or Udyam registration.
• APEDA reviews applications in about seven to fifteen working days, according to an exporter guide.

Timing matters under the law too. The APEDA Act says exporters of scheduled products must apply for registration within one month of starting exports. Do not wait until your first container is ready.

Step 4: Open a Current Account and Get an AD Code

Your bank links your account to customs through an Authorised Dealer (AD) code. Customs will not clear your first shipment without both the IEC and the AD code. Ask your bank to register the code on the customs system early. Export payments will flow through this account, so choose a bank that handles foreign exchange often.

Step 5: Meet Food Safety and Inspection Rules

Food safety rules depend on what you ship. Two bodies matter most.

FSSAI and Udyam registration. As noted above, APEDA asks manufacturer exporters of many food products for these.

Export Inspection Council (EIC). EIC runs mandatory certification for fish, dairy, honey, egg products, meat, and poultry products, while other foods are certified on a voluntary basis. Inspection is either consignment-wise or based on a food safety management system.

Voluntary does not mean optional if your buyer asks for it. EIC offers a voluntary scheme for products that importing countries want certified. Many buyers also ask for lab reports on pesticide residue and moisture. Ask your buyer for their list of required tests before you ship, not after.

Step 6: Get a Phytosanitary Certificate for Plant Products

Fresh produce, grains, pulses, and seeds usually need a phytosanitary certificate (PSC). It tells the importing country that your shipment is free from quarantine pests.

Plant quarantine officials issue the certificate after inspecting the consignment, working under the International Plant Protection Convention. Thirty-five quarantine stations at airports, seaports, and land borders handle this work.

You apply online. The Plant Quarantine Information System lets exporters apply and track the status of their request.

Pay attention to the electronic format. India’s plant protection directorate introduced e-Phyto through the IPPC hub and warned that some importing countries may reject certificates issued outside it. Confirm with your buyer which format they accept.

Step 7: Pack, Label, and Prepare Your Documents

Good packing protects your goods and your reputation. Use clean, dry, food-grade packaging. Label every unit with the product name, batch number, and origin. Check the destination country’s labeling rules, because some require local-language text.

Next, build your document set. Most agri shipments need:

• Commercial invoice
• Packing list
• Bill of lading (sea) or airway bill (air)
• Certificate of origin
• Phytosanitary certificate
• Product quality certificates or lab reports

Trading companies publish what they send with each order, and it shows what buyers expect. Srindhya Global, an import and export company in Bengaluru, says every shipment carries a commercial invoice, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and product-specific certificates. Use a list like that as a starting checklist for your own files.

Step 8: File the Shipping Bill and Clear Customs

The shipping bill is your main customs document. Goods cannot be loaded onto a vessel or aircraft without an approved shipping bill, and exporters file it electronically on ICEGATE.

The type of bill depends on your shipment:

• Free shipping bill: for goods that carry no export duty and claim no incentives.
• Dutiable shipping bill: for goods that carry export duty.
• Drawback shipping bill: for goods that claim duty drawback.

You upload supporting documents such as invoices and packing lists through e-Sanchit. Many exporters hire a customs house agent to handle the filing and port formalities.

Keep one rule in mind: every figure and description must match across the invoice, packing list, and shipping bill. Mismatched details and wrong invoice values are common filing mistakes.

What It Costs and How Long It Takes

Government fees are small. The IEC costs ₹500, and the APEDA RCMC costs ₹5,900 as listed on APEDA’s notice. Your larger costs come later: inspection, lab tests, packaging, freight, and agent fees. Phytosanitary and inspection charges vary by product and location, so check with your plant quarantine station and Export Inspection Agency.

For timing, plan on one to two weeks for the IEC and RCMC together if your documents are clean. Add time for FSSAI, lab tests, and the phytosanitary inspection before your first shipment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Most delays come from small errors. Watch for these:

• Applying for the RCMC before the IEC is active
• Different names on the PAN, bank account, and invoices
• Starting exports before registering with APEDA
• Skipping the importing country’s own rules on residues and labeling
• Using a phytosanitary certificate format the buyer’s country does not accept
• Shipping bill details that differ from the invoice

Should You Work with a Trade Partner?

Not every producer wants to handle the whole chain. Some farmers and processors sell through merchant exporters or trading firms. APEDA’s own process has a merchant exporter category for exactly this reason.

Srindhya Global is one example of such a trader. Its site lists edible oils, rice, spices, pulses, and packaged goods sourced from verified manufacturers, with no rigid minimum order quantity and a 24-hour response to enquiries. Whoever you pick, ask for their IEC, their RCMC, and sample documents before you commit to a deal.

Next Steps

Start with your IEC, because every other registration depends on it. Then apply for your RCMC, line up your food safety papers, and confirm your buyer’s import rules. If you want to see how working exporters write about shipments and buyer needs, the trade guides on the Srindhya Global blog cover rice grades and importer checklists. Keep your records tidy, and your first shipment will move faster than you expect.