Imports & ExportsStart exporting

Farm produce

Export fresh grapes

Thompson Seedless and coloured grapes from Nashik and Sangli, mainly to Europe and Russia. EU lots must clear GrapeNet.

Free to exportHS 0806.10
HS code
0806.10
Fresh grapes. Raisins (dried grapes) are 0806.20.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. For the EU, vineyards must be registered and lots cleared under APEDA’s GrapeNet Residue Monitoring Plan, with Agmark grading and a phytosanitary certificate issued through the system. Vietnam opened market access for Indian grapes in May 2026 (APEDA circular).
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 368 mn
to 46 countries

What is exported

Maharashtra grows about 69% of India’s grapes and Karnataka about 25%. India exported 2.24 lakh tonnes worth US$ 368 million in 2025-26; the Netherlands, Russia, the UK, the UAE and Bangladesh were the top buyers. The season runs from January to April, with fruit sea-freighted in reefers after forced-air pre-cooling.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Thompson Seedless and its clonesAbout 79% of grape area; the main green export grape for Europe.
  • Tas-e-Ganesh and 2A CloneWhite seedless selections of Thompson, also exported.
  • Sharad Seedless and other black seedlessColoured seedless grapes for the UK, Russia and Gulf.
  • Bangalore BlueSeeded juice grape from Karnataka (GI).
  • Raisins (0806 20)Sangli and Nashik dried grapes; Sangli Raisins is a GI.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraOver 69% of output: Nashik (Nashik Grapes GI), Sangli, Solapur, Pune; GrapeNet-registered vineyards.
  • KarnatakaAbout 25%: Vijayapura, Bagalkot, Belagavi; Bengaluru (Bangalore Blue).

Season

Table-grape exports run roughly January to April from Maharashtra’s winter harvest; registration on GrapeNet must be done before the season.

Export packing

  • Bunches in punnets or bags inside corrugated cartons (commonly 4.5–5 kg net) with an SO₂ pad and liner.
  • Pre-cooled in the packhouse and shipped in 40-ft reefer containers under cold chain to Europe.

Who buys abroad

  • Fruit importers in the Netherlands who supply European supermarkets
  • UK supermarket suppliers (category managers)
  • Importers in Russia, the UAE and Bangladesh

The quality buyers ask for

EU marketing standard
Specific standard for table grapes in Regulation (EU) 2023/2429: classes, minimum bunch weight and minimum sugar (°Brix) levels
Berry size
Stated in mm by the buyer; larger berries fetch more
Codex
Codex table grape standard (CXS 255-2007)
Residues
Every EU lot sampled and tested under GrapeNet’s residue monitoring plan before the phytosanitary certificate is issued
Condition
Green stems, no shatter, rot, cracks or SO₂ bleaching
AGMARK grading
EU lots are AGMARK-graded under DMI’s instructions for grape exports

Certificates

  • GrapeNet farm registrationRequiredVineyards supplying the EU must be registered on GrapeNet, with residue testing of each lot.
  • 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.
  • AGMARK grading (EU)RequiredGrading certificate for EU consignments under DMI’s grape export instructions.
  • 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.
  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

40-ft reefers, typically about 20 pallets of 4.5–5 kg cartons for Europe; larger cartons for the Gulf and Bangladesh.

How it travels

Sea freight from Nhava Sheva (JNPT) to Rotterdam and other ports, typically 3–4 weeks; trucks to Bangladesh.

Storage

Pre-cool quickly after packing; keep typically at about –0.5 to 0 °C with 90–95% humidity and SO₂ pads in the cartons.

Shelf life

Typically 6–8 weeks in an unbroken 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.
  • GrapeNet lot number and the packhouse code on every carton, matching the phytosanitary certificate.
  • 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

GrapeNet sampling and residue testing are done only by APEDA-authorised laboratories; the current list is on apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations. Your packhouse usually arranges the lab.

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 (GrapeNet)Vineyard registration by the State Horticulture Department, residue testing by an approved lab, and a Certificate of Agmark Grading — all on GrapeNet.apeda.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Pesticide residues under the GrapeNet Residue Monitoring Plan, lot by lot, before export to the EU.
  • Agmark grading for berry size, sugar and appearance.
  • SO₂ pad use and cold-chain temperature (around 0 °C) to prevent decay during 3–4 weeks at sea.
How to start small

Partner with a Nashik packhouse that already runs GrapeNet. Begin with the UAE or Bangladesh (no GrapeNet clearance needed), then add Europe once your growers’ farms are registered before pruning in October.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Registering farms too late — vineyards not on GrapeNet before the season cannot ship to the EU.
  • Consignment sales to European importers with no minimum price; prices at arrival can fall below your cost.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (3)
  1. APEDA — Grapes profile (exports and destinations 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)
  3. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (exports and destinations, 2025-26)

Trade data

Indian fresh grapes exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 368 mn
+3.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +3.9%
US$ 354 mn → US$ 368 mn
Buyer countries
46
Average export price
US$ 1.64
per kg · 2,24,401 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.30 the year before
Netherlands: US$ 178 mnRussia: US$ 38.3 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 35.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 29 mnBangladesh: US$ 19.5 mnMalaysia: US$ 10.1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 8.9 mnNepal: US$ 8.5 mnGermany: US$ 7.1 mnOman: US$ 5.3 mnIraq: US$ 3.1 mnThailand: US$ 2.4 mnHong Kong: US$ 2.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.4 mnCanada: US$ 2 mnSpain: US$ 1.8 mnTaiwan: US$ 1.4 mnQatar: US$ 1.2 mnCambodia: US$ 990kSingapore: US$ 940kChina: US$ 720kSweden: US$ 690kNetherlands: US$ 178 mnNetherlandsRussia: US$ 38.3 mnRussiaUnited Kingdom: US$ 35.8 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 29 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBangladesh: US$ 19.5 mnBangladeshMalaysia: US$ 10.1 mnMalaysiaSaudi Arabia: US$ 8.9 mnNepal: US$ 8.5 mnNepalGermany: US$ 7.1 mnOman: US$ 5.3 mnIraq: US$ 3.1 mnThailand: US$ 2.4 mnHong Kong: US$ 2.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 2.4 mnCanada: US$ 2 mnSpain: US$ 1.8 mnTaiwan: US$ 1.4 mnQatar: US$ 1.2 mnCambodia: US$ 990kSingapore: US$ 940kChina: US$ 720kSweden: US$ 690kIndia
Where Indian fresh grapes goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 314 mn3142020-212021-22: US$ 306 mn3062021-222022-23: US$ 314 mn3142022-232023-24: US$ 418 mn4182023-242024-25: US$ 354 mn3542024-252025-26: US$ 368 mn3682025-26
India’s fresh grapes exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2025-26, lowest in 2021-22 — a 41% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.27 per kg2021-22: US$ 1.16 per kg1.162022-23: US$ 1.17 per kg2024-25: US$ 1.30 per kg2025-26: US$ 1.64 per kg1.642020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fresh grapes · 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$ 314 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 306 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 314 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 418 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 354 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 368 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 400 mn (US$ 348 mn – US$ 459 mn)4002026-272027-28: US$ 417 mn (US$ 358 mn – US$ 487 mn)4172027-28
India’s fresh grapes exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 417 mn

Likely range US$ 358 mn to US$ 487 mn.

Trend
+4.4% a year
Fit (R²)
0.45 — weak, read with care
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
1NetherlandsUS$ 178 mn+18.3%
2RussiaUS$ 38.3 mn+8.7%
3United KingdomUS$ 35.8 mn+11%
4United Arab EmiratesUS$ 29 mn-9.3%
5BangladeshUS$ 19.5 mn-13.2%
6MalaysiaUS$ 10.1 mn-12.1%
7Saudi ArabiaUS$ 8.9 mn-2.4%
8NepalUS$ 8.5 mn-5.7%
9GermanyUS$ 7.1 mn-30.7%
10OmanUS$ 5.3 mn+7.8%
11IraqUS$ 3.1 mn-11.7%
12ThailandUS$ 2.4 mn-47.4%

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. NetherlandsUS$ 151 mn → US$ 178 mn+18.3%
  2. United KingdomUS$ 32.2 mn → US$ 35.8 mn+11%

Low demand

  1. ChinaUS$ 3.8 mn → US$ 720k-81.3%
  2. Hong KongUS$ 5.9 mn → US$ 2.4 mn-59.4%
  3. ThailandUS$ 4.6 mn → US$ 2.4 mn-47.4%
  4. GermanyUS$ 10.3 mn → US$ 7.1 mn-30.7%
  5. BangladeshUS$ 22.4 mn → US$ 19.5 mn-13.2%
  6. MalaysiaUS$ 11.5 mn → US$ 10.1 mn-12.1%

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

  • Cambodia · US$ 990k

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, grapes, fresh — grapes fresh0806 10 00US$ 368 mn+3.9%2,24,401 tonnesUS$ 1.64 per kgwas US$ 1.30

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$ 10.9 bn
2023
India among exporters
#11
of 107 countries
India’s share of world exports
3.4%
US$ 329 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 9.26 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1PeruUS$ 1.77 bn 18.4%
  2. 2ChileUS$ 923 mn 9.6%
  3. 3ItalyUS$ 876 mn 9.1%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 818 mn 8.5%
  5. 5ChinaUS$ 814 mn 8.5%
  6. 6USAUS$ 768 mn 8%
  7. 7South AfricaUS$ 598 mn 6.2%
  8. 8MexicoUS$ 379 mn 3.9%
  9. 9AustraliaUS$ 369 mn 3.8%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 355 mn 3.7%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 2.72 bn 25%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 962 mn 8.8%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 759 mn 7%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 662 mn 6.1%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 552 mn 5.1%
  6. 6ChinaUS$ 485 mn 4.4%
  7. 7IndonesiaUS$ 400 mn 3.7%
  8. 8China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 307 mn 2.8%
  9. 9ThailandUS$ 281 mn 2.6%
  10. 10FranceUS$ 277 mn 2.5%

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$ 2.54 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 2.54 bn
GermanyUS$ 984 mnIndia 7.9% · gap US$ 907 mn
United KingdomUS$ 662 mnIndia 4.4% · gap US$ 633 mn
CanadaUS$ 598 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 594 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 621 mnIndia 11.2% · gap US$ 552 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 436 mnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 432 mn
ChinaUS$ 326 mnIndia 3.2% · gap US$ 315 mn
FranceUS$ 309 mnIndia 2.1% · gap US$ 303 mn
SpainUS$ 206 mnIndia 2.5% · gap US$ 201 mn
VietnamUS$ 173 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 173 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 grapes

India is a major table-grape exporter, with most export grapes grown in Maharashtra (APEDA puts the state at over two-thirds of production). India harvests between the southern-hemisphere season (Chile, Peru, South Africa) and the northern one (Italy, Spain, Egypt, Turkey), which gives it a February–April window in Europe. The Netherlands, the UK, Russia, the Gulf and Bangladesh are the main buyers. The openings are new seedless and coloured varieties that buyers ask for, and new markets opened by protocol.

  1. 01Register vineyards on GrapeNet

    Registration opens months before harvest. Growers follow the approved spray list and pre-harvest intervals.

  2. 02Contract a packhouse and buyer

    Agree varieties, berry size, cartons, weekly volumes and price basis (fixed or consignment) before the season.

  3. 03Pre-harvest residue test

    An APEDA-authorised lab samples the plot; only cleared lots can be packed for Europe.

  4. 04Harvest, pack and pre-cool

    Harvest in the cool of the morning, pack with SO₂ pads, pre-cool and hold in cold store.

  5. 05Grade and certify

    AGMARK grading and the phytosanitary certificate are issued through GrapeNet.

  6. 06Ship in reefers

    Load pre-cooled pallets into pre-cooled reefers and record temperatures throughout.

  7. 07Get 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 grapes

When is the export season?
Roughly January to April from Maharashtra, with Europe buying most in February–April.
Can a trader without vineyards export to Europe?
Yes, but only grapes from GrapeNet-registered plots that passed residue testing, packed in a recognised packhouse.
What is a consignment sale?
The importer sells on your behalf and pays what the market gives, less commission and costs. It is common in grapes but risky for newcomers.
Why do grapes arrive with loose berries?
Late harvest, rough handling or broken cold chain. Pre-cool fast and keep temperature steady.
Which varieties do buyers want?
Thompson Seedless and its clones still lead, but European buyers increasingly ask for coloured and newer seedless varieties.
Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Grapes profile
  2. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)
  3. EU — Delegated Regulation (EU) 2023/2429, marketing standards for fruit and vegetables
  4. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  5. Directorate of Marketing & Inspection — AGMARK grade standards (commodity-wise rules)
  6. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)

Who buys Indian fresh grapes

All countries →

More in farm produce

All products →