India’s Garlic (Lehsun) Exports

About India’s Garlic (Lehsun) Exports

IndiaGraphs presents two historical series: export value in ₹ crore and export quantity in tonnes. Read together, they show whether changes in export earnings were accompanied by changes in the physical volume shipped.

Garlic is widely consumed within India, so exports represent only one outlet for production. Changes in export shipments can reflect the balance between domestic availability and overseas demand, as well as prices and trade conditions.

What the two datasets measure

These measures answer different questions. Their relationship is often more informative than either series considered in isolation.

Garlic exports: a market shaped by domestic supply

Garlic is perishable and requires appropriate curing, grading and storage. Quality and the form in which garlic is exported can affect the realised value per tonne. An increase in export value without a similar rise in tonnage may indicate stronger prices or a change in the shipment mix.

Export statistics should not be treated as a direct measure of farmers’ incomes. Domestic wholesale prices, handling costs and margins along the supply chain also matter.

How to interpret changes in the chart

A rise in export value with falling quantity can occur when average unit values increase. Conversely, a rise in tonnage alongside flat earnings may indicate lower unit values or a change in product mix. Neither pattern alone proves a change in profitability.

Can export value be used to estimate price?

Dividing export value by export quantity gives an indicative average export value per tonne, provided the periods and coverage match. Since value is recorded in ₹ crore and quantity in tonnes, multiply the ratio by 10,000,000 to express it in ₹ per tonne. This is a unit value, not a quoted market price: changes in product grade, destination, contract terms and product mix can influence it.

Using the historical data

Use the dataset tabs above to switch between the two measures, compare changes across matching periods and access the available downloads. For comparisons, keep the time period, units and underlying statistical definitions consistent.

These series cover exports, not total crop production, domestic prices or farm incomes. Interpret any apparent turning point against the reporting period, coverage and any subsequent data revisions.