Persimmons market in Southern Asia

Earlier Report Observations

The persimmon market in Southern Asia contracted from 58 372 tons in 2018 to 51 541 tons in 2023. This decline was primarily driven by a slowdown in population growth that began in 2018 and continued through 2020, reducing the base consumer demand. Concurrently, a trend of declining real incomes since 2014 limited household purchasing power for fresh fruit.

The COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 exacerbated economic challenges, further constraining market prospects. However, persistent consumer interest in healthy lifestyles sustained demand for persimmons as a vitamin-rich natural product. On the supply side, cultivation expanded in Himachal Pradesh as farmers shifted from apples due to climate stress and better price realization, supporting regional availability.

Market diversification into restaurant menus and processed products like jams, alongside the growth of e-commerce and government policies allowing full foreign direct investment in food retail, created new sales channels. Despite these supportive developments, the overarching demographic and economic headwinds prevented overall market growth during the period.

Production persimmons in Southern Asia

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of persimmons, 2017-2020

World map of production of persimmons, 2017-2020

Southern Asia's persimmon production declined for the second year in a row. In 2020, the region produced 55 550 tonnes, marking a slight decrease of 1.5% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production fell by 4.9%, with an average annual decline of 1.6%. The highest output was recorded in 2018 at 60 786 tonnes, which saw a 4.1% increase. However, the largest drop occurred in 2019, with production falling by 7.2%.

Annual dynamics of production in Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports persimmons from Southern Asia

Exports in kind, t

The export market displayed significant volatility during this period. The lowest export volume was recorded in 2017, while the highest was in 2019, showing an 11-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia exported 3 261 tonnes of persimmons, representing a sharp decline of 12.2% from the previous year. The peak volume was 3 713 tonnes in 2019, and the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a remarkable 620.5% surge.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the main destinations for persimmon exports from Southern Asia were Iraq, accounting for 45.1% of the volume, the United Arab Emirates with 19.6%, and Oman at 9.3%. Together, these three markets represented 74.0% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market experienced notable fluctuations in performance. Export values hit their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2019, with the highest value being 11.4 times greater than the lowest. In 2020, Southern Asia exported persimmons worth 1 870 thousand US dollars, showing a sharp contraction of 39.7% from the year before. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 3 100 thousand US dollars, while the largest increase occurred in 2018 with a 443.9% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, the primary markets for persimmon exports from Southern Asia in value terms were Iraq, which accounted for 43.2% of exports, the United Arab Emirates with 19.8%, and Belarus at 10.6%. Collectively, these three countries absorbed 73.6% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020

Imports persimmons to Southern Asia

Imports in kind, t

The import market showed an unstable trend over this timeframe. The lowest import volume was in 2018 at 18 tonnes, while the highest was in 2020, resulting in a 14.4-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Southern Asia imported 257 tonnes of persimmons, up by 217.6% from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 with a 55.8% drop, and the largest increase occurred in 2019 with a 353.5% surge.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, the leading sources for persimmon imports to Southern Asia by volume were Spain, contributing 6.9%, Uzbekistan at 1.9%, and Thailand with 0.6%. Together, these three countries accounted for 9.4% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the period. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 27 thousand US dollars, while the highest was in 2020, with the peak value being 13.7 times greater than the trough. In 2020, Southern Asia's persimmon imports amounted to 363 thousand US dollars, marking a sharp increase of 203.7% compared to the previous year. The largest decline occurred in 2018 with a 66.5% drop, and the largest increase was in 2019 with a 350.1% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Over the 2017-2020 period, persimmon imports to Southern Asia in value terms were distributed across a wide range of partner countries. The top contributors were Spain, accounting for 18.8% of imports, Thailand with 6.1%, and the United Arab Emirates at 2.8%. Together, these three countries represented 27.7% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Southern Asia in value, 2017-2020