India’s toffee exports have risen by 166% over the past 12 years, reaching ₹132 crore in 2025-26, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Wednesday. According to the minister, the country’s toffee exports stood at ₹49.68 crore in 2013-14 before witnessing sharp growth over the years. 

“India's TOFFEE TALE would surely be a melody to the ears! Exports have grown nearly 166% since 2013-14,” Goyal said in a post on social media. 

Modi’s ‘Melody’ toffees for Meloni 

The minister shared the export figures after Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gifting her ‘Melody’ toffees during his visit to Italy. In a video posted on social media, Meloni said, “Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee -- Melody.”  

Currently PM Modi is visiting Italy at the invitation of Meloni to strengthen cooperation between the two countries in sectors including trade, defence, clean energy, and technology. 

The interaction also brought back attention to the popular “Melodi” hashtag, a combination of Modi and Meloni’s names. The phrase was first used by Meloni during the COP28 summit in Dubai in 2023 and later became widely popular on social media following the warm exchanges between the two leaders at international events. Apart from toffees, India has also seen strong exports in other confectionery and processed food categories.  

India’s rising exports in jaggery and confectionery segments  

According to Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), exports under the “jaggery and confectionery” category, which includes chocolates, chewing gum, candies, and bakery products, reached $406.84 million in 2024-25. Major export destinations included Indonesia, the US, the UAE, Nigeria, and Nepal.  

India’s cocoa product exports also recorded sharp growth during the year. APEDA data showed cocoa product exports touched $295.58 million in FY25, compared with $183.54 million in FY24. The category includes cocoa powder, cocoa butter and related chocolate ingredients, with major markets including the US, the Netherlands, the UAE and Indonesia.  

The broader processed food export segment also posted healthy numbers. India exported processed fruits, juices and nuts worth $721.93 million in FY25, while cereal preparations exports stood at $933.78 million, according to APEDA. The authority said confectionery, chocolates, biscuits and bakery products continue to remain important contributors to India’s processed food exports basket.