Groundnuts are one of the most important oilseed crops in Indian agriculture. Indian groundnuts have been popular across the world for their rich oil content, protein value, and use in both food and industrial applications.
India has been a front-runner in the production and export of groundnuts. India is the world’s second-largest producer of groundnuts (after China), and its exports of groundnuts and groundnut-based products have shown a steady presence in global markets.
India’s groundnut production reached a record 13.074 million tonnes for 2025-26, driven largely by states like Gujarat and Rajasthan, and India is known as one of the world’s leading exporters of groundnut oil — which is why groundnuts hold a place of pride among India’s agri-export crops.
Groundnuts are edible legume seeds grown mainly under rain-fed conditions, obtained from the groundnut (peanut) plant, and are cultivated widely across states such as Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal and Telangana.
They have a varied range of uses and cater to the food, edible oil, cosmetics, and animal feed industries.
In the nutritional sector, groundnuts act as a rich source of protein, healthy fats, vitamins, and antioxidants. In the oil industry, groundnut oil (peanut oil) is valued for its nutritional properties, versatility, and culinary uses, with a high smoking point making it a preferred cooking medium.
