India is the second-largest producer of fruit and vegetables in the world and is also an expanding market for imported produce. India is currently Australia’s fifth-largest horticultural trading partner by value; most of this value is in nuts.

India’s huge and mainly vegetarian population provides an exciting opportunity for exporting our high-quality fresh produce, with more becoming health conscious. From a recent consumer study, Indian consumers also indicated they love food and cooking at home, with 74 per cent of those surveyed considering food a passion.

The key to success in India is finding good business partners. While this is important in all markets, it is acutely critical in India. Australian exporters can now also take advantage of the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (ECTA), which entered into force in December 2022. This has reduced tariffs for horticulture exports including citrus, almonds, macadamias, avocados and berries.

Top ten levy-funded Australian exports to India by volume for the year ending February 2024

1. Almond (all) – 24,571 tonnes
2. Orange – 4,626 tonnes
3. Mandarin (including tangerine and satsuma) – 1,212 tonnes
4. Avocado – 355 tonnes
5. Pear – 114 tonnes
6. Table grape – 96 tonnes
7. Peach (including nectarines) – 33 tonnes
8. Grapefruit (including pomelos) – 9 tonnes
9. Macadamia (all) – 6 tonnes
10. Cherry – 3 tonnes

Australian commodities with market access to India

Almond
Apple
Avocado
Blueberry
Cherry
Chive, leek, onion, shallot
Citrus (including orange, mandarin, lemon, grapefruit, lime, tangelo and finger lime)
Date
Macadamia
Pear
Pistachio
Summerfruit (including apricot, nectarine, peach and plum)
Table grapes

India is the fifth-highest export location for Australian fruit, nuts and vegetables

Year ending February 2024

Useful links

• See more export facts and figures in Hort Innovation’s 2022/23 Australian Horticulture Statistics Handbook here
• Gain insights into international consumers for 13 of Australia’s priority export markets here
• See how key Aussie export stakeholders and authorities are joining forces to help protect and grow Australia’s horticultural exports with the Fresh and Secure Trade Alliance (FASTA) here
• Access the Hort IQ International Consumer Needs dashboard here
• Access the Austrade Go Global toolkit here

See also

Australia's top ten trade horticultural commodities here