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Farm produce

Export fresh banana

Cavendish bananas by reefer to the Gulf and Central Asia. Harvest maturity, cold chain and ripening control decide profit.

Free to exportHS 0803.90
HS code
0803.90
Bananas other than plantains, fresh or dried. Plantains (cooking bananas) are 0803.10.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. A phytosanitary certificate is needed; check the importing country’s plant-quarantine conditions through APEDA’s market-access circulars.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 496 mn
to 34 countries

What is exported

India is the world’s largest banana producer, with about 27% of global output (APEDA, citing FAO). Grand Naine (Cavendish) from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu is the main export variety. APEDA groups bananas with other fresh fruits; that group went mainly to Iraq, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran, Nepal and Bangladesh in 2025-26.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Grand Naine (Cavendish)The export banana — uniform hands that ripen well in ripening rooms abroad.
  • Robusta and Dwarf CavendishOlder Cavendish types still traded to nearby markets.
  • NendranKerala cooking and chips banana; Chengalikodan Nendran is a GI.
  • Rasthali, Poovan and red bananaSpeciality bananas for diaspora markets.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraJalgaon (Jalgaon Banana GI), Solapur.
  • Andhra PradeshAnantapur and Kadapa — large Grand Naine export plantations.
  • GujaratAnand, Bharuch and Surat belts.
  • Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and KeralaTheni and Tiruchirappalli; Nanjangud (GI); Thrissur (Chengalikodan Nendran).

Season

Available all year; plantations are staggered so that containers can ship every week.

Export packing

  • Green hands, de-handed and washed, packed in 13 kg corrugated cartons with poly liners.
  • Pre-cooled and shipped green in 40-ft reefer containers at controlled temperature; ripened at destination.

Who buys abroad

  • Fruit importers with ripening rooms in Iraq, Iran, the UAE and Saudi Arabia
  • Wholesalers in Central Asia (Uzbekistan) and Nepal
  • Gulf hypermarkets and food-service suppliers

The quality buyers ask for

Standard
Codex banana standard (CXS 205-1997): Extra, Class I and Class II
Finger size
Finger length and grade (calibre) set by the buyer
Maturity
Harvested green and hard at about three-quarter fullness; ripened at destination
Presentation
Hands or clusters, crown cut cleanly and treated, no latex stains, scars or bruises
Residues
Post-harvest fungicide residues within destination MRLs

Certificates

  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal. Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without it.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment of plant produce, after inspection. Apply on PQMS.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • GLOBALG.A.P.Often askedFarm-level good agricultural practice certification. Most European supermarket buyers of fresh produce ask for it.
  • APEDA-recognised packhouseOften askedPacking in a recognised packhouse with washing, de-handing and pre-cooling is what serious buyers expect.
  • HACCPOften askedA food-safety plan that identifies hazards at each processing step and controls them. Most importers ask for it from the processing unit.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

40-ft reefers, typically about 20 pallets of 13 kg cartons.

How it travels

Sea freight from Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Tuticorin to Gulf ports; trucks to Nepal and Bangladesh.

Storage

Typically about 13–14 °C. Below about 12 °C the peel blackens (chilling injury); above that, fruit starts to ripen in transit.

Shelf life

About 3–4 weeks green in a steady cold chain.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Fresh produce cartons for the EU (marketing standards, Regulation 2023/2429): packer’s name and address, produce name and variety, country of origin, class, size code and net weight.
  • Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and the importer’s details. Confirm the current rules with your importer.
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and bag — FSSAI’s Labelling and Display Regulations, 2020 require it, and every importing country uses it to trace and recall.
Where to get it tested

Use a laboratory on APEDA’s list of recognised laboratories (apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations). For any other test, search the NABL directory (nabl-india.org) for a lab accredited for that test, or use an FSSAI-notified lab. Ask the buyer which lab reports they accept before you send samples.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • Plant Quarantine (DPPQS)Phytosanitary certificate for each consignment of plant produce, applied for online on PQMS. Some markets also need the farm, packhouse or mill to be registered with Plant Quarantine.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Harvest at the right maturity (about 75–80%), dehand, wash, treat crowns and pack in cartons the same day.
  • Pre-cooling and a steady reefer temperature of about 13–14 °C; below that the fruit chills and blackens.
  • Pesticide residues within the buyer’s MRLs; phytosanitary certificate.
How to start small

Work with a Jalgaon, Anand or Theni grower group that already supplies an export packhouse. Ship one reefer container to a Gulf importer on advance payment, and send a person to check the first arrival.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Field-heat not removed before loading; fruit ripens unevenly in transit.
  • Bruising from bunch transport on open trucks. Dehand and carton at the farm or packhouse.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. APEDA — Other Fresh Fruits profile (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  3. Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) — PQMS portal for phytosanitary certificates

Trade data

Indian fresh banana exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 496 mn
+37.3% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +30.5%
US$ 380 mn → US$ 496 mn
Buyer countries
34
Average export price
US$ 0.44
per kg · 1.12 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.46 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 52.8 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 21.4 mnOman: US$ 19 mnNepal: US$ 9.6 mnKuwait: US$ 5.1 mnQatar: US$ 3.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 790kBhutan: US$ 760kUnited Kingdom: US$ 510kGermany: US$ 300kRussia: US$ 50kSingapore: US$ 40kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 52.8 mnUnited Arab EmiratesSaudi Arabia: US$ 21.4 mnOman: US$ 19 mnNepal: US$ 9.6 mnNepalKuwait: US$ 5.1 mnQatar: US$ 3.7 mnUnited States of America: US$ 790kUnited States of AmericaBhutan: US$ 760kUnited Kingdom: US$ 510kUnited KingdomGermany: US$ 300kRussia: US$ 50kRussiaSingapore: US$ 40kSingaporeIndia
Where Indian fresh banana goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 102 mn1022020-212021-22: US$ 161 mn1612021-222022-23: US$ 176 mn1762022-232023-24: US$ 293 mn2932023-242024-25: US$ 380 mn3802024-252025-26: US$ 496 mn4962025-26
India’s fresh banana exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2022-23, lowest in 2021-22 — a 15% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.43 per kg2021-22: US$ 0.42 per kg0.422022-23: US$ 0.49 per kg0.492024-25: US$ 0.46 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.44 per kg0.442020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fresh banana · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 102 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 161 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 176 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 293 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 380 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 496 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 701 mn (US$ 619 mn – US$ 794 mn)7012026-272027-28: US$ 961 mn (US$ 836 mn – US$ 1.1 bn)9612027-28
India’s fresh banana exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 961 mn

Likely range US$ 836 mn to US$ 1.1 bn.

Trend
+37% a year
Fit (R²)
0.98
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1IraqUS$ 219 mn+22.8%
2UzbekistanUS$ 83.9 mn+53.3%
3IranUS$ 54.5 mn+2.2%
4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 52.8 mn+43.7%
5Saudi ArabiaUS$ 21.4 mn+101.5%
6OmanUS$ 19 mn-5.3%
7SyriaUS$ 17 mn—
8NepalUS$ 9.6 mn-27.1%
9KuwaitUS$ 5.1 mn+22.2%
10QatarUS$ 3.7 mn+66.8%
11AfghanistanUS$ 2.4 mn+119.3%
12BahrainUS$ 2 mn-11.9%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 10.6 mn → US$ 21.4 mn+101.5%
  2. UzbekistanUS$ 54.7 mn → US$ 83.9 mn+53.3%
  3. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 36.7 mn → US$ 52.8 mn+43.7%
  4. IraqUS$ 178 mn → US$ 219 mn+22.8%
  5. KuwaitUS$ 4.1 mn → US$ 5.1 mn+22.2%

Low demand

  1. NepalUS$ 13.2 mn → US$ 9.6 mn-27.1%

New buyers: Countries that bought nothing from India in 2024-25 and did in 2025-26.

  • Syria · US$ 17 mn

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Fruit, edible, bananas, other than plantains, fresh or dried — bananas, fresh0803 90 10US$ 494 mn+30.6%1.12 mn tonnesUS$ 0.44 per kgwas US$ 0.46
Other bananas, excluding plantains0803 90 90 · Fruit, edible, bananas, other than plantains, fresh or driedUS$ 1.7 mn+59.8%1,019 tonnesUS$ 1.68 per kgwas US$ 0.63
Fruit, edible, plantains, fresh or dried — other plantain0803 10 90US$ 260k-52.7%271 tonnesUS$ 0.96 per kgwas US$ 1.19
Fruit, edible, plantains, fresh or dried — curry plantain0803 10 10US$ 60k-80%86 tonnesUS$ 0.70 per kgwas US$ 0.61

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 15.9 bn
2023
India among exporters
#10
of 128 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.8%
US$ 252 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 13.5 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1EcuadorUS$ 3.79 bn 27.6%
  2. 2PhilippinesUS$ 1.22 bn 8.9%
  3. 3Costa RicaUS$ 1.19 bn 8.6%
  4. 4GuatemalaUS$ 1.12 bn 8.2%
  5. 5ColombiaUS$ 915 mn 6.7%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 888 mn 6.5%
  7. 7USAUS$ 527 mn 3.8%
  8. 8Viet NamUS$ 310 mn 2.3%
  9. 9GermanyUS$ 304 mn 2.2%
  10. 10IndiaUS$ 252 mn 1.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 3.15 bn 19.8%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.17 bn 7.4%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 1.08 bn 6.8%
  4. 4JapanUS$ 956 mn 6%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 895 mn 5.6%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 867 mn 5.4%
  7. 7United KingdomUS$ 733 mn 4.6%
  8. 8ItalyUS$ 611 mn 3.8%
  9. 9CanadaUS$ 504 mn 3.2%
  10. 10IranUS$ 406 mn 2.6%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 3.23 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 3.23 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.11 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 1.11 bn
JapanUS$ 974 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 974 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 944 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 944 mn
ChinaUS$ 908 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 908 mn
FranceUS$ 872 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 872 mn
United KingdomUS$ 733 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 733 mn
ItalyUS$ 594 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 594 mn
CanadaUS$ 522 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 522 mn
South KoreaUS$ 382 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 382 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export fresh banana

India grows more bananas than any other country — about 27% of world production according to APEDA — but most are eaten at home. Ecuador, the Philippines, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia dominate exports. Indian exports have grown to the Gulf, Iran, Central Asia and nearby countries, helped by sea-shipment protocols for Cavendish (Grand Naine). The openings are year-round Cavendish supply from Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu in reefers, and dried banana and banana powder.

  1. 01Secure regular supply

    Contract farms or FPOs growing Grand Naine with planned harvests every week.

  2. 02Harvest green and handle gently

    Harvest at the agreed fullness, carry bunches padded, and reach the packhouse the same day.

  3. 03De-hand, wash and pack

    Cut hands, wash off latex, treat the crown, pack in poly-lined cartons.

  4. 04Pre-cool and stuff

    Pre-cool to transit temperature and load into a pre-set reefer.

  5. 05Phytosanitary and customs

    Get the phytosanitary certificate, file the shipping bill and send documents quickly so the buyer can clear on arrival.

  6. 06Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting fresh banana

Which banana variety is exported?
Mainly Cavendish (Grand Naine). Some Nendran and red banana go to diaspora markets by air.
Why did my bananas arrive black?
Usually chilling injury from too low a reefer setting, or bruising. Keep about 13–14 °C and handle gently.
Do bananas ripen on the ship?
They should not. They are shipped green and ripened in ripening rooms at destination.
Which markets are closest?
The Gulf (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait), Iran, and neighbours such as Nepal and Bangladesh.
Is a phytosanitary certificate enough?
It is the basic legal document. Check APEDA’s market-access circulars for any extra conditions of the importing country.
Sources (5)
  1. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (India’s position and exports, 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Other Fresh Fruits profile
  3. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  4. APEDA — Importing countries’ regulations
  5. APEDA — Recognised packhouses

Who buys Indian fresh banana

All countries →

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