Market research

Watermelons market in India

Release date: Mar 28, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

The Indian watermelon market experienced steady volume growth after 2019, with production increasing from 2 495 thousand tonnes in 2019 to 3 626 thousand tonnes in 2023. The notable 26% rise in 2020 was partly due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which heightened consumer focus on fresh and healthy foods like watermelons as home cooking and health awareness surged. Simultaneously, seedless watermelon varieties gained traction, supporting category expansion by attracting younger consumers.

Production continued to climb, reaching 3 308 thousand tonnes in 2022. That year, climate change facilitated watermelon cultivation in new regions such as Ladakh, where organic farming techniques increased supply diversity and spurred demand for specialty watermelons. Ongoing innovations, including seedless and smaller varieties, further sustained market growth by aligning with persistent consumer preferences for fresh fruit.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in India
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in India in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in India in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K t
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to India by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to India, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, t
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to India by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to India, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from India by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from India, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, t
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in kind, 2018-2024, t
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from India by countries, 2018-2024, t
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from India in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from India by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from India, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from India by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, t
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production watermelons in India

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

India ranked third globally in watermelon production between 2017 and 2020.

Top producers of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of watermelons, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, India produced 3,157 thousand tonnes of watermelons, marking a 26.5% increase from 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 44.7%, with a compound annual growth rate of 13.1%. The only decline occurred in 2019, when production fell by 1.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in India in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	15.5%	(1.0%)	26.5%	13.1%

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, the value of watermelon production in India reached 857.9 million US dollars, a significant 31.4% rise compared to the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production value increased by 14.8%, translating to an annualized growth rate of 4.7%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 653.1 million US dollars, which represented a 22.0% decline.

Annual dynamics of production in India in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	12.0%	(22.0%)	31.4%	4.7%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports watermelons from India

Exports in kind, t

After two years of growth, India's watermelon exports declined in 2020. That year, exports totaled 32,839 tonnes, a 3.9% drop from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, exports increased by 35.6%, with an annualized rate of 10.7%. The peak was in 2019 at 34,154 tonnes, following the largest annual increase of 19.6% in 2018.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	19.6%	17.9%	(3.9%)	10.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates, Nepal, and the Maldives dominated India's watermelon exports by volume. The UAE accounted for 51.8% of exports, Nepal for 23.2%, and the Maldives for 11.5%, together making up 86.5% of total export flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

India's watermelon exports in value terms declined for the second consecutive year in 2020, amounting to 8,924 thousand US dollars, with only a slight change from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, export value increased by 7.6%, equating to an annualized growth rate of 2.5%. The highest value was recorded in 2018 at 9,620 thousand US dollars, which saw a 16.0% increase, while the largest decline occurred in 2019 at 7.1%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	16.0%	(7.1%)	(0.2%)	2.5%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, the United Arab Emirates, the Maldives, and Qatar were the top destinations for India's watermelon exports by value. The UAE held a 55.7% share, the Maldives 12.8%, and Qatar 9.2%, collectively representing 77.6% of total export value.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports watermelons to India

Imports in kind, t

The import market showed an unstable trend during this period. Imports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 1 tonne and peaked in 2020 at 319 tonnes, a 472-fold increase. In 2020, imports surged by 47,146.8% compared to 2019, with the largest decline of 97.7% occurring in 2019.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	3 868.5%	(97.7%)	47 146.8%	657.8%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Afghanistan effectively monopolized India's watermelon imports by volume, accounting for 99.2% of total flows.

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

Source: SHEV.io

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

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

The import market exhibited high volatility from 2017 to 2020. Imports hit a low of 1 thousand US dollars in 2019 and rose to 288 thousand US dollars in 2020, a 365-fold increase. In 2020, import value jumped by 36,417.2% year-over-year, with the largest decline of 91.3% recorded in 2019.

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