Apples grown outside of India will be imported at a higher rate, driving up prices till August of next year.
In the 2024–25 season, imports are expected to reach 6 lakh tons.
During the 2024–25 marketing season, apple imports to India are expected to surge. In contrast to 5.44 lakh tons imported last season, the USDA India Post predicts a 10% increase to 6 lakh tonnes this season. The rising demand for premium apple types and the overall increase in apple consumption in the country are the main reasons behind this growth.
Variations with Seasons and Increasing Demand
Beginning in July, when the new marketing season begins, Apple imports are anticipated to increase. Demand for apples, especially premium and imported types, continues to surpass supply, even though local apple production has been strong this year, increasing by 6% from 24.1 lakh tonnes to 25.5 lakh tonnes.
Imported apples will most likely fill the void when the local apple harvest ends in November. In metropolitan markets, where quality apples are highly sought after, traders believe that the high demand all year round will drive the need for imports.
Resilient Apple Market and Supply in the Local Area
Important states such as Jammu & Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh have achieved remarkable apple output this year. But, there is still a great demand for apples from other countries, even though there is a plentiful supply in the area. Experts in the field, like Fresh Fruit Alliance founder Prashant Gidwani, anticipate continued demand for apples in the near future, whether they are imported or grown domestically.
The Import Boom is Spearheaded by Premium Apples
The increasing demand for high-quality apples in India is driving up the price of apples imported from nations like the US, France, Italy, and Poland. The Indian market has also seen the introduction of apples from Turkey and Iran.
The increasing demand has prompted importers to increase their businesses' scale. Consider Zion Agricos, an apple importer based in India. Last season, they purchased six containers; this season, they intend to import fifty, a substantial increase. A diverse sourcing strategy is evident in the fact that 40 of these containers will originate from Poland.
From November to August, Imported Apples Will Rule the Market
Next year, from November through August, there will likely be a spike in demand for imported apples as the local apple season comes to a close. Because of the premium nature of these apples and the increasing demand for them, their prices are expected to rise throughout this period.
The increasing demand for apples, both domestically cultivated and imported, is indicative of the changing preferences of the significance of high-quality fruits in the diets of Indian consumers is on the rise.The fruit's enduring allure is expected to benefit both local cultivators and imports as the market expands. Maintaining the apple market over the long run will depend on finding a balance between domestic production and imports.
