India exported $441.75 billion worth of merchandise in FY2025-26, with smartphones, petroleum products and pharmaceuticals accounting for a significant share of the country’s overseas trade. Yet, official export data also reveals a lesser-known side of India’s economy through thousands of niche products shipped across the world.
Among the most surprising was human hair, which generated nearly $948 million in exports during the financial year. Processed human hair contributed more than $651 million, while exports of raw, washed or scoured human hair added almost $287 million. Much of this hair originates from temple offerings before being sorted, processed and exported for use in wigs and hair extensions in international markets.
India’s export basket contains more than 11,500 product categories, classified using the Harmonized System of customs codes. Alongside major export items are specialised products that cater to unique industries and niche consumer markets.
Official trade data also lists exports of snake venom, primarily used in medical research and the production of antivenom. Other unusual exports include Braille typewriters, carrom boards, chess sets, buffalo horns, dried jellyfish, cuttlefish bones, frankincense and even classroom globes. Individually, these products account for only a tiny share of India’s export earnings, but together they demonstrate the diversity of businesses participating in international trade.
The contrast becomes even more striking when compared with India’s leading exports. Smartphones alone generated more than $29 billion in export earnings during FY2025-26, while diesel, diamonds and pharmaceutical products remained among the country’s largest export categories. Together, these sectors dominate the trade basket.
However, the long tail of niche exports tells another story. Behind every customs code is a business serving a specialised global market, whether through traditional products, agricultural goods, industrial materials or research inputs. While they may never rival smartphones or petroleum products in value, these exports reflect the breadth of India’s manufacturing capabilities and its ability to meet highly specific demand across the world.
Source: Financial Express
