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India could be the next big export market for the U.S.

India has the potential to be the next big export market for the U.S.

Scott Sindelar, the CEO of Edgewise Trade Advisors and former agricultural minister-counselor in India, says U.S. exporters have opportunities to expand in India as the country’s population continues to grow.

“India’s current population is about 1.37 billion people and the CIA’s fact book estimates about 45 percent of India’s population is under the age of 25,” he says. “So, India has a very large, very young, aspirational and connected population in a country that is experiencing unprecedented growth.”

Sindelar, who spoke during the US Grains Council summer meeting, says India won’t replace China as a market for the U.S., but India is a nearly $2 billion market for US agriculture.

U.S. food and ag exports to India were nearly $1.5 billion in 2018.

U.S. Grains Council is working to advance trade policy relationship with India that support ethanol for fuel use.

India was the third largest market for U.S. ethanol exports in 2016-2017, with about 135 million gallons. That’s an 80 percent increase over the previous year.