India’s premium fresh-produce exports reach $1.92 billion as market access improves
India exported $1.92 billion of fresh fruit and vegetables in FY 2025–26, led by sales to the UAE, Iraq and the Netherlands. Investment in traceability, packhouses, cold chains and phytosanitary compliance is giving growers greater access to premium overseas markets.
Fresh-produce exports reach $1.92 billion
India’s exports of fresh fruit and vegetables reached $1.92 billion in FY 2025–26, according to data from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority cited by the India Brand Equity Foundation. Grapes, mangoes, pomegranates, bananas and vegetables including okra, onions, green chillies and gherkins form the core of the country’s premium fresh-produce trade.
The UAE was the largest destination, purchasing $305.14 million of Indian fresh produce. Iraq followed with $222.30 million, while the Netherlands bought $189.81 million. Nepal accounted for $131.32 million and Malaysia for $129.13 million. The mix gives exporters access to nearby Middle Eastern and South Asian markets as well as a major European distribution hub.
IBEF said demand for safe, high-quality and traceable food is encouraging Indian exporters and growers to adopt certification, scientific post-harvest handling, modern packhouses and cold-chain logistics. Compliance with international phytosanitary requirements and digital traceability is also helping suppliers establish confidence among overseas buyers.
Large production base supports export growth
India’s horticulture production is estimated at 377.78 million tonnes from 30.15 lakh hectares in 2025–26, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare’s Second Advance Estimates. The total includes 121.48 million tonnes of fruit and 221.00 million tonnes of vegetables. As the world’s second-largest producer of fruit and vegetables, India has a broad supply base for domestic consumption and export programmes.
The country’s varied agro-climatic zones allow production of a wide range of crops throughout the year. That gives exporters scope to serve different seasonal windows abroad, but premium sales depend on consistent appearance, freshness, food safety and residue management. Produce must also withstand grading, packaging and transport without losing the quality required by higher-value buyers.
Export-oriented cultivation can give farmers access to better prices and encourage diversification into crops with established international demand. It also raises production requirements: growers must coordinate varieties, farm practices, harvest timing and documentation with exporters, packhouses and logistics providers.
Cold chains and processing remain central
Government support through APEDA has focused on export infrastructure, quality standards, traceability and market access. IBEF identified further investment in packhouses, refrigerated logistics, testing laboratories and multimodal transport as important for reducing post-harvest losses and improving competitiveness. Stronger farmer producer organisations could help smaller farms meet volume and consistency requirements.
Investment in value addition is developing alongside fresh exports. IMARC Group valued India’s fruit and vegetable processing market at $917.8 million in 2025 and forecasts it will reach $1,398.80 million by 2034, representing a compound annual growth rate of 4.65%. Although the projection covers processing rather than fresh exports, it points to wider investment in handling and value-chain infrastructure.
Further growth will depend on precise farming, climate-resilient practices and reliable traceability, according to IBEF. Diversifying destinations would reduce dependence on a limited group of buyers, while closer coordination among farmers, exporters and government agencies could improve consistency. For producers, the opportunity is not simply to increase output, but to deliver verified quality through an uninterrupted post-harvest chain.
