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Farm produce

Export fresh vegetables

Okra, green chilli, drumstick, gourds and potatoes for Gulf and UK ethnic markets. Fast, perishable and residue-sensitive.

Free to exportHS 07
HS code
07
Chapter 7 — edible vegetables, fresh or chilled (for example okra 0709.99, green chilli 0709.60, potatoes 0701, drumstick and gourds under 0709).
Export policy
Free to export
Free. Green chilli and drumstick for the EU must go through APEDA’s VegNet system with sampling and analysis (APEDA circular 18 Mar 2026 and advisory 25 Mar 2026).
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 2.26 bn
to 160 countries

What is exported

India exported 8.88 lakh tonnes of fresh vegetables other than onion in 2025-26, worth US$ 363 million. The UAE, Nepal, Bangladesh, the UK, Oman, Malaysia and Qatar were the main buyers. Most of this trade serves South Asian shoppers abroad and moves by air in cartons, or by reefer to the Gulf.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Okra (bhindi)Tender pods by air to the UK and Gulf; residue checks are strict.
  • Green chilliMostly to the Gulf and UK; separate HS line 0709 60 10.
  • Gourds and drumstick (bitter, bottle, snake gourd, coccinia)Ethnic vegetables for South Asian shoppers.
  • Potato, tomato, cabbage, cauliflowerBulk lines mainly to Nepal, Bangladesh and the Gulf by road or sea.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraPune and Nashik belts feeding Mumbai airport and JNPT; VegNet-registered farms.
  • GujaratAnand, Vadodara and Surat clusters for okra and gourds.
  • Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and BiharLarge producers; potato and vegetables to Nepal and Bangladesh by land.
  • Tamil Nadu, Kerala and KarnatakaDrumstick, gourds and green chilli by air from Chennai, Kochi and Bengaluru.

Export packing

  • 4–10 kg ventilated corrugated cartons, packed in an APEDA-recognised packhouse for EU-bound produce.
  • Pre-cooled before loading; air freight for short-life items, reefer containers for the Gulf.
  • Cartons labelled with packhouse and farm traceability codes.

Who buys abroad

  • Ethnic Indian and South Asian wholesalers in the UK and Gulf
  • Hypermarket chains in the UAE, Oman and Qatar
  • Wholesale markets in Nepal and Bangladesh

The quality buyers ask for

Freshness and look
Clean, firm, free of pests, rot and visible residue; uniform colour
Size
Set per item by the buyer — e.g. okra pod length, chilli length, drumstick length
Pesticide residues
Within destination MRLs; for the EU, green chilli and drumstick are sampled and tested under VegNet
EU marketing standard
General marketing standard of Regulation (EU) 2023/2429: sound, clean, practically free of pests and damage, labelled with origin
Pre-cooling
Field heat removed at the packhouse before packing; cold chain to the airport

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.
  • APEDA-recognised packhouse / VegNetRequiredMany markets, including the EU, take vegetables only from APEDA-recognised packhouses, with VegNet traceability for listed items.
  • 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.
  • BRCGS Food SafetyOften askedGFSI-recognised standard asked for by UK and many EU supermarkets for private-label packing.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Most vegetables fly in 3–5 kg corrugated cartons on passenger and freighter flights; some (such as onion-type and gourds) go by reefer container.

How it travels

Air freight from Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kochi, Hyderabad and Amritsar.

Storage

Pre-cool and hold at the right temperature for each item (okra and green chilli typically about 7–10 °C, leafy items cooler); never break the cold chain.

Shelf life

Days, not weeks — sell within the week of harvest.

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 ↗
  • APEDA (VegNet / recognised packhouse)Farm registration on VegNet and packing in an APEDA-recognised packhouse for the EU and other markets that demand traceability.apeda.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Pesticide residues: the EU and UK reject okra, chilli, drumstick and curry leaves over residues more often than any other Indian produce. Use APEDA’s MRL database for each market.
  • Phytosanitary certificate; some markets list specific pests (for example fruit flies) and require inspection at the packhouse.
  • Cold chain from farm to aircraft — pre-cooling and reefer trucks.
How to start small

Tie up with an FPO near an airport (Mumbai, Bengaluru, Kochi, Ahmedabad, Delhi) and an APEDA-recognised packhouse. Send 300–500 kg mixed cartons a week by air to a Dubai or Sharjah importer on advance payment. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). Registrations that a law requires for the product still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Buying from the open mandi for EU or UK orders — you cannot prove spray history, and one residue alert closes the door.
  • Under-pricing air freight. It is often the biggest cost; get a written rate before quoting.
  • Quality claims after arrival with no photos or temperature logs from your side.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Other Fresh Vegetables profile (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  3. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)
  4. APEDA — International Pesticide MRL Database
  5. APEDA — Recognised packhouses
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian fresh vegetables exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 2.26 bn
+11.6% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +3%
US$ 2.19 bn → US$ 2.26 bn
Buyer countries
160
Average export price
US$ 0.58
per kg · 3.90 mn tonnes shipped · US$ 0.67 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 289 mnChina: US$ 239 mnBangladesh: US$ 158 mnMalaysia: US$ 137 mnUnited States of America: US$ 135 mnSri Lanka: US$ 132 mnNepal: US$ 117 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 81.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 71.5 mnRussia: US$ 54.4 mnCanada: US$ 47.6 mnGermany: US$ 44.5 mnVietnam: US$ 40.2 mnOman: US$ 39.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 39.1 mnQatar: US$ 38.7 mnSingapore: US$ 34.9 mnSpain: US$ 32 mnKuwait: US$ 29.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 24.1 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 289 mnUnited Arab EmiratesChina: US$ 239 mnChinaBangladesh: US$ 158 mnBangladeshMalaysia: US$ 137 mnMalaysiaUnited States of America: US$ 135 mnUnited States of AmericaSri Lanka: US$ 132 mnNepal: US$ 117 mnNepalUnited Kingdom: US$ 81.1 mnIndonesia: US$ 71.5 mnRussia: US$ 54.4 mnCanada: US$ 47.6 mnGermany: US$ 44.5 mnVietnam: US$ 40.2 mnOman: US$ 39.6 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 39.1 mnQatar: US$ 38.7 mnSingapore: US$ 34.9 mnSpain: US$ 32 mnKuwait: US$ 29.3 mnNetherlands: US$ 24.1 mnIndia
Where Indian fresh vegetables goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 1.3 bn1.3k2020-212021-22: US$ 1.49 bn1.5k2021-222022-23: US$ 1.92 bn1.9k2022-232023-24: US$ 1.94 bn1.9k2023-242024-25: US$ 2.19 bn2.2k2024-252025-26: US$ 2.26 bn2.3k2025-26
India’s fresh vegetables exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2022-23 — a 56% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.45 per kg2021-22: US$ 0.48 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.43 per kg0.432024-25: US$ 0.67 per kg0.672025-26: US$ 0.58 per kg0.582020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fresh vegetables · 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$ 1.3 bn2020-212021-22: US$ 1.49 bn2021-222022-23: US$ 1.92 bn2022-232023-24: US$ 1.94 bn2023-242024-25: US$ 2.19 bn2024-252025-26: US$ 2.26 bn2025-262026-27: US$ 2.69 bn (US$ 2.44 bn – US$ 2.96 bn)2.7k2026-272027-28: US$ 3.01 bn (US$ 2.7 bn – US$ 3.35 bn)3.0k2027-28
India’s fresh vegetables exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 3.01 bn

Likely range US$ 2.7 bn to US$ 3.35 bn.

Trend
+11.9% a year
Fit (R²)
0.92
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
1United Arab EmiratesUS$ 289 mn+25.4%
2ChinaUS$ 239 mn+96%
3BangladeshUS$ 158 mn-63.1%
4MalaysiaUS$ 137 mn+34.1%
5United States of AmericaUS$ 135 mn-8.6%
6Sri LankaUS$ 132 mn+17.8%
7NepalUS$ 117 mn+20%
8United KingdomUS$ 81.1 mn+12%
9IndonesiaUS$ 71.5 mn+33.6%
10RussiaUS$ 54.4 mn+41.5%
11CanadaUS$ 47.6 mn-4.9%
12GermanyUS$ 44.5 mn+11%

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. VietnamUS$ 18.2 mn → US$ 40.2 mn+120.8%
  2. ChinaUS$ 122 mn → US$ 239 mn+96%
  3. RussiaUS$ 38.4 mn → US$ 54.4 mn+41.5%
  4. SingaporeUS$ 25 mn → US$ 34.9 mn+39.4%
  5. MalaysiaUS$ 102 mn → US$ 137 mn+34.1%
  6. IndonesiaUS$ 53.5 mn → US$ 71.5 mn+33.6%
  7. QatarUS$ 29 mn → US$ 38.7 mn+33.3%
  8. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 230 mn → US$ 289 mn+25.4%

Low demand

  1. BangladeshUS$ 429 mn → US$ 158 mn-63.1%
  2. TürkiyeUS$ 38.4 mn → US$ 17.5 mn-54.4%
  3. FranceUS$ 24.8 mn → US$ 18.6 mn-24.8%
  4. MaldivesUS$ 23.6 mn → US$ 20.3 mn-14.1%

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
Other onions fresh or chilled0703 10 19 · Vegetables, alliaceous, onions and shallots, fresh or chilledUS$ 380 mn-11.2%1.51 mn tonnesUS$ 0.25 per kgwas US$ 0.39
Vegetables, onions, whole, cut, sliced, broken or in powder but not further prepared, dried — onions dried0712 20 00US$ 232 mn+2.5%1,31,328 tonnesUS$ 1.77 per kgwas US$ 2.06
Vegetables, leguminous, chickpeas, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried — kabuli chana0713 20 10US$ 212 mn+18.1%1,95,428 tonnesUS$ 1.09 per kgwas US$ 1.36
Beans of the spp vigna radiata (l.) wilczek0713 31 90 · Vegetables, leguminous, beans of the species vigna mungo hepper or vigna radiata wilczek, shelled, whether…US$ 190 mn+608.8%1,89,751 tonnesUS$ 1.00 per kgwas US$ 1.26
Other dried and shld luguminous vegtbls,split0713 90 10 · Vegetables, leguminous in heading no. 0713, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, driedUS$ 126 mn+94.8%1,15,426 tonnesUS$ 1.09 per kgwas US$ 1.20
Cucumbers and gherkins provisionally presvd0711 40 00 · Vegetables, cucumbers and gherkins, provisionally preserved but unsuitable in that state for immediate…US$ 101 mn-6.6%1,31,281 tonnesUS$ 0.77 per kgwas US$ 0.93
Vegetables, edible in chapter 07, fresh or chilled — other of hdg. 0709990709 99 90US$ 91.2 mn+8.7%94,546 tonnesUS$ 0.96 per kgwas US$ 0.81
Lentils (mosur),dried and shld0713 40 00 · Vegetables, leguminous, lentils, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, driedUS$ 88.8 mn-30%1,00,504 tonnesUS$ 0.88 per kgwas US$ 0.89
Potatoes fresh or chilled other than seeds0701 90 00 · Vegetables, potatoes, fresh or chilledUS$ 84.1 mn-29.5%4,21,618 tonnesUS$ 0.20 per kgwas US$ 0.23
Vegetables, leguminous, chickpeas, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried — bengal gram (desi chana)0713 20 20US$ 72.4 mn-25.7%91,935 tonnesUS$ 0.79 per kgwas US$ 0.85
Vegetables, fruits of the genus capsicum or of the genus pimenta, fresh or chilled — green chilly0709 60 10US$ 64.5 mn-1.8%1,07,358 tonnesUS$ 0.60 per kgwas US$ 0.59
Beans of the spp vigna mungo (l.) hepper0713 31 10 · Vegetables, leguminous, beans of the species vigna mungo hepper or vigna radiata wilczek, shelled, whether…US$ 62.5 mn-23.5%58,639 tonnesUS$ 1.07 per kgwas US$ 1.25
Vegetables, leguminous, chickpeas, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, dried — other chana0713 20 90US$ 55.4 mn+11.1%60,772 tonnesUS$ 0.91 per kgwas US$ 1.01
Pigeon peas (cajanus cajan)0713 60 00 · Vegetables, leguminous, pigeon peas, shelled, whether or not skinned or split, driedUS$ 41.9 mn-29.4%33,372 tonnesUS$ 1.26 per kgwas US$ 1.67

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$ 92.1 bn
2023
India among exporters
#12
of 160 countries
India’s share of world exports
2.2%
US$ 2.08 bn
Left for others to win
US$ 90.6 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 11 bn 11.9%
  2. 2MexicoUS$ 9.83 bn 10.6%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 9.44 bn 10.2%
  4. 4SpainUS$ 9.33 bn 10.1%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 6.45 bn 7%
  6. 6USAUS$ 5.34 bn 5.8%
  7. 7FranceUS$ 3.51 bn 3.8%
  8. 8BelgiumUS$ 2.82 bn 3%
  9. 9TürkiyeUS$ 2.45 bn 2.6%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 2.34 bn 2.5%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 15.4 bn 16.8%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 8.95 bn 9.7%
  3. 3United KingdomUS$ 4.89 bn 5.3%
  4. 4FranceUS$ 4.68 bn 5.1%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 3.75 bn 4.1%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 3.54 bn 3.8%
  7. 7ChinaUS$ 3.36 bn 3.7%
  8. 8IndiaUS$ 3.15 bn 3.4%
  9. 9BelgiumUS$ 2.92 bn 3.2%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 2.6 bn 2.8%

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$ 16.5 bnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 16.4 bn
GermanyUS$ 9.05 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 9.01 bn
United KingdomUS$ 4.89 bnIndia 2.1% · gap US$ 4.79 bn
FranceUS$ 4.78 bnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 4.74 bn
CanadaUS$ 4.05 bnIndia 1.4% · gap US$ 4 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 3.65 bnIndia 0.5% · gap US$ 3.64 bn
ItalyUS$ 2.74 bnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 2.73 bn
JapanUS$ 2.45 bnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 2.44 bn
SpainUS$ 2.41 bnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 2.37 bn
ChinaUS$ 1.99 bnIndia 5.3% · gap US$ 1.88 bn

All of Chapter 7, including onion and potato. 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 vegetables

APEDA notes that India produces a very large share of the world’s fruit and vegetables but holds only about 1% of the global fresh-produce market. Fresh vegetables go mainly by air to Gulf countries, the UK and Europe, where South Asian and African communities buy okra, green chilli, drumstick, gourds and curry leaves. Kenya, Egypt, Pakistan and Morocco compete in the same markets. The openings are reliable weekly supply from a recognised packhouse and residue-compliant produce for Europe through VegNet.

  1. 01Line up a packhouse

    Work with an APEDA-recognised packhouse near the airport; it handles sorting, pre-cooling and residue control.

  2. 02Register farms and FPOs

    For the EU, register the supplying farms on VegNet and follow the spray schedule and pre-harvest intervals.

  3. 03Agree a weekly programme

    Buyers want the same items every week. Agree the list, carton weights, flight days and price basis.

  4. 04Harvest, grade and pre-cool

    Harvest early in the day, grade, pack and pre-cool within hours.

  5. 05Phytosanitary and air waybill

    Get the phytosanitary certificate on PQMS, file the shipping bill and hand over to the airline with the air waybill.

  6. 06Settle claims and payment

    Fresh produce often sells on consignment or with quality claims. Get photos at arrival, then collect payment and the e-BRC.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting fresh vegetables

Which vegetables sell best abroad?
Okra, green chilli, drumstick, bitter gourd, bottle gourd, curry leaves and Indian varieties that are hard to grow abroad.
Can I ship from my farm without a packhouse?
For the EU, no — APEDA-recognised packhouses and VegNet are required for listed items. For the Gulf, a packhouse still cuts rejections.
How am I paid for fresh produce?
Many importers pay after sale or deduct for quality claims. Start with advance or part-advance terms and keep arrival photos.
What causes EU rejections?
Pesticide residues and pests. That is why VegNet sampling and testing applies to green chilli and drumstick.
Is air freight too costly?
It is the biggest cost. Pack to the right carton weight and book regular space with a forwarder to get better rates.
Sources (7)
  1. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (India’s position and exports, 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Other Fresh Vegetables profile
  3. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)
  4. APEDA — Recognised packhouses
  5. EU — Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429, marketing standards for fruit and vegetables
  6. APEDA — International Pesticide MRL Database
  7. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)

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