Assam's first dairy export: 5,627 litres of Purabi ice cream flagged off to Bhutan
Synopsis
Assam has achieved its first-ever commercial dairy export — 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium ice cream — flagged off to Bhutan by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. Backed by a World Bank-funded capacity expansion that tripled Purabi Dairy's processing volumes, the shipment directly connects thousands of Assam cooperative farmers to an international market for the first time.
Key Takeaways
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off Assam's first-ever commercial dairy export on 28 July 2025 from Janata Bhawan, Guwahati .
The consignment comprises 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium ice cream in six flavours, bound for Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing in Bhutan.
The export is produced by WAMUL under the Purabi Dairy brand, with marketing handled by NEDFL and facilitated by APEDA .
Purabi Dairy's daily processing capacity grew from 60,000 litres to 1.5 lakh litres with support from the World Bank-funded APART project .
Assam currently processes approximately 2.5 lakh litres of milk per day across its dairy operations.
The shipment directly links thousands of cooperative dairy farmers across Assam to an international supply chain for the first time.
Assam scripted a historic first on Tuesday, 28 July 2025, as Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma flagged off the state's maiden commercial dairy export — a consignment of 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium ice cream — to neighbouring Bhutan from Janata Bhawan, Guwahati. The shipment marks the first time any dairy product from Assam has entered an international market on a commercial basis.
What Was Exported and Where It Goes
The consignment, produced by the West Assam Milk Producers' Cooperative Union Limited (WAMUL) under the Purabi Dairy brand, comprises premium ice cream in six flavours: butterscotch, chocolate, choco chips, strawberry, mango, and vanilla. The products are destined for major Bhutanese cities including Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing, where they will be marketed commercially.
Marketing of Purabi products in the export channel is handled by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL), which worked with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) — operating under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry — to complete export documentation, regulatory clearances, and all related formalities.
The Cooperative Network Behind the Milestone
The milk used to manufacture the exported ice cream is sourced through Purabi Dairy's cooperative network spread across Assam, directly linking thousands of dairy farmers in the state to an international supply chain for the first time. Officials described this as a structural shift — not just a symbolic export — that could open sustained overseas market opportunities for smallholder producers.
Purabi Dairy's capacity expansion has been a key enabler. Supported by the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), the dairy's daily milk processing capacity was scaled from 60,000 litres to 1.5 lakh litres. The state currently processes around 2.5 lakh litres of milk every day across its dairy operations.
What the Chief Minister Said
Speaking at the flag-off, Chief Minister Sarma said the achievement reflects five years of sustained government effort to strengthen Assam's dairy sector. He expressed confidence that exports of ice cream and other value-added dairy products to Bhutan would continue on a regular basis, and credited infrastructure expansion — backed by APART — as a critical factor in enabling Assam to enter international dairy markets.
State Cooperation Minister Kaushik Rai, along with senior officials and other dignitaries, attended the flag-off programme at Janata Bhawan.
Why This Matters for Assam's Dairy Sector
This is the first commercial dairy export in Assam's history, and it arrives at a moment when the Northeast is increasingly being positioned as an agri-export corridor. Bhutan, as a geographically proximate and import-dependent market, offers a low-logistics-cost entry point. Notably, this comes amid broader Centre-state efforts to integrate northeastern agri-produce into global value chains. If the Bhutan channel scales, it could serve as a template for exports to other neighbouring countries such as Bangladesh and Nepal.
What Comes Next
With the export documentation framework now in place and APEDA's support secured, officials indicate that regular commercial shipments are being planned. The focus is expected to shift toward expanding the product range beyond ice cream to other value-added dairy items as processing capacity and demand allow.
Point of View
But the real test is whether a single consignment becomes a durable trade corridor. Bhutan is a small, import-dependent market — useful as a proof-of-concept, but limited in scale. The more consequential question is whether WAMUL and NEDFL can replicate this framework for larger neighbours like Bangladesh, where demand for processed dairy is substantially higher. The World Bank-backed capacity tripling at Purabi Dairy has created headroom; the challenge now is building consistent export demand to justify further investment in cold-chain logistics and product diversification beyond ice cream.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Assam's first commercial dairy export to Bhutan?
It is a consignment of 5,627 litres of Purabi Premium ice cream — in butterscotch, chocolate, choco chips, strawberry, mango, and vanilla flavours — produced by WAMUL under the Purabi Dairy brand and flagged off on 28 July 2025. It is the first time any dairy product from Assam has been commercially exported to a foreign country.
Who facilitated the export and what role did APEDA play?
APEDA, under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, assisted NEDFL in completing export documentation, regulatory clearances, and other formalities required for the international shipment. Marketing of Purabi products in Bhutan is handled by North East Dairy and Foods Limited (NEDFL).
How has Purabi Dairy's capacity expanded in recent years?
With support from the World Bank-funded Assam Agribusiness and Rural Transformation Project (APART), Purabi Dairy's daily milk processing capacity was scaled up from 60,000 litres to 1.5 lakh litres. Assam's total daily milk processing now stands at approximately 2.5 lakh litres.
Which cities in Bhutan will receive the Purabi ice cream?
The consignment will be marketed across major Bhutanese cities including Thimphu, Paro, and Phuentsholing.
How does this export benefit Assam's dairy farmers?
The milk used to produce the exported ice cream is sourced through Purabi Dairy's cooperative network across Assam, directly connecting thousands of smallholder dairy farmers in the state to an international market for the first time. Officials say regular commercial shipments are being planned to sustain and expand this linkage.
