Food processing sector eyes 30% level, $500B growth

India’s food processing industry is gearing up for its next phase of growth, with the sector aiming to raise its processing level from the current 16–17 per cent to as much as 30 per cent.

Industry leaders say rising demand for healthier and premium foods, greater formalisation, infrastructure upgrades, advanced technology and automation will be critical to making Indian food products more globally competitive.

The proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement is also expected to open new opportunities, with bilateral agri-food trade potentially doubling to €10 billion by 2032. The outlook was discussed at a precursor event in New Delhi ahead of Anuga Select India 2026 and Anuga FoodTec India 2026, which will bring global food, beverage and food-processing companies together in Mumbai later this month.

India’s Food Processing Sector Eyes 30 per cent Processing Level as Trade and Technology Drive $500-Billion Growth. India’s food processing industry is gearing up for its next phase of growth, with the sector aiming to raise its processing level from the current 16–17 per cent to as much as 30 per cent.

Industry leaders say rising demand for healthier and premium foods, greater formalisation, infrastructure upgrades, advanced technology and automation will be critical to making Indian food products more globally competitive. The proposed India–EU Free Trade Agreement is also expected to open new opportunities, with bilateral agri-food trade potentially doubling to €10 billion by 2032. The outlook was discussed at a precursor event in New Delhi ahead of Anuga Select India 2026 and Anuga FoodTec India 2026, which will bring global food, beverage and food-processing companies together in Mumbai later this month.