India: India's FMD Status and its Water Buffalo - Carabeef Trade Update 2023

India is the world’s largest producer of carabeef, a meat derived from the Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Carabeef is one of India's largest agricultural exports. All data reported herein is carcass-weight-equivalent (CWE). In calendar year (CY) 2022 (January-December), India exported 1.44 million metric tons (MMT) of carabeef ($2.9 billion), accounting for 33 percent of its production; making India globally the fourth largest exporter of red meat. To date in CY 2023 (January through May) India has exported 0.59 MMT of carabeef ($1.22 billion), down four percent compared to the 0.61 MMT ($1.25 billion) reported at the same period in 2022. In 2023, India’s carabeef production is expected to reach 4.4 MMT. Notwithstanding high production volumes, the Indian water buffalo herd is susceptible to various disease outbreaks, including foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) among others. FMD in India impedes carabeef exports to most of the world’s high-income markets, including the United States.