Market research

Sorghum market in India

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Sorghum production in India showed significant fluctuations between 2018 and 2023, rising sharply to a peak of 5.1 million tonnes in 2020 before gradually declining to 3.8 million tonnes by 2023. Market volume mirrored this trend, as imports were negligible and exports remained a small fraction of total output.

The production increase in 2020 was primarily driven by sustained government support through the Minimum Support Price (MSP) system for hybrid and traditional sorghum varieties, which guaranteed farmers a stable income. This was complemented by the entry of new hybrid seed varieties from companies like Hytech Seed, which offered early maturity and shootfly tolerance, improving yields in drought-prone regions. Concurrently, rising consumer awareness of sorghum's health benefits, such as its high vitamin and fiber content, supported domestic demand.

Following the peak, production faced several constraints. Economic studies highlighted that cultivation costs rose faster than market prices, reducing farmer profitability. Quality losses due to molds and a projected decrease in sown area in subsequent seasons further contributed to the gradual output decline. Globally, a sharp 46% reduction in Chinese sorghum imports indirectly influenced trade dynamics and market sentiment.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in India
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in India in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in India in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from India by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from India, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, K t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from India by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/kg
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from India, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to India by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to India, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, K t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in kind, 2018-2024, K t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to India by countries, 2018-2024, K t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/kg
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to India, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/kg
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, K t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production sorghum in India

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Between 2017 and 2020, India ranked as the world's fifth-largest producer of sorghum.

Top producers of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of sorghum, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Following a two-year decline, India's sorghum production rebounded. In 2020, the country produced 5 061 K t of sorghum, representing a sharp increase of 47.2% compared to 2019. Over the 2017–2020 period, production grew by 3.8%, which translates to an annualized growth rate of 1.2%. The lowest production volume was recorded in 2019 at 3 437 K t, which also saw the largest decline of 19.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in India in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(12.6%)	(19.4%)	47.2%	1.2%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports sorghum from India

Exports in kind, K t

The market exhibited significant volatility during these years. Export volumes varied 5.4 times from the low in 2017 to the high in 2018. In 2020, India's cross-border shipments of sorghum reached 36.6 K t, marking a year-over-year drop of 24.8%. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 111.3 K t. The largest decline occurred in 2019 with a 56.2% decrease, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 444.6% surge.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	444.6%	(56.2%)	(24.8%)	21.5%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, India's sorghum exports in kind were distributed across a broad range of partners. Pakistan accounted for 21.2% of exports, Kenya for 12.0%, and Saudi Arabia for 10.5%. Together, these three countries represented only 43.7% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from India in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

The market showed considerable volatility during this period. Export values varied 3.2 times from the minimum in 2017 to the maximum in 2018. In 2020, India exported sorghum worth 16 467 K US dollars, reflecting a robust year-over-year decline of 23.5%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 34 609 K US dollars. The largest decrease occurred in 2019 with a 37.8% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018 with a 219.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	219.9%	(37.8%)	(23.5%)	15.0%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, India's sorghum exports in value terms reached many different markets. Even the top destinations—Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—collectively accounted for only 48.6% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from India in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports sorghum to India

Imports in kind, K t

Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates was overwhelmingly the main destination for India's sorghum imports in kind, accounting for 99.9% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to India in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017–2020 period, the United Arab Emirates consistently served as the primary market for sorghum imports to India, absorbing 99.2% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to India in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io