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Farm produce

Export fresh pomegranate

Bhagwa pomegranate from Maharashtra for the Gulf, Europe and new markets. AnarNet traceability is required for the EU.

Free to exportHS 0810.90
HS code
0810.90
Other fresh fruit, which includes pomegranate. Check the 8-digit line for pomegranate in the current ITC(HS) list.
Export policy
Free to export
Free. For the EU, farms must be registered and lots tested on AnarNet (part of APEDA HortiNet).
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 121 mn
to 53 countries

What is exported

Bhagwa from Solapur, Nashik and Ahmednagar is India’s main export pomegranate, sold as whole fruit and as fresh arils. APEDA lists pomegranate among the larger fresh-fruit exports and counts it in the "other fresh fruits" group, which went mainly to Iraq, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran, Nepal and Bangladesh in 2025-26. Canada’s requirements for pomegranate fruit and arils were updated in April 2026.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • BhagwaDeep red skin and arils, soft seeds; the main export variety.
  • Solapur LalRed-aril variety from ICAR’s pomegranate research centre at Solapur.
  • GaneshOlder pale-aril variety, now mostly for the domestic market.
  • Fresh arils (ready-to-eat)Packed seeds in punnets, a growing value-added line.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraSolapur (Solapur Pomegranate GI), Nashik, Ahmednagar, Sangli; AnarNet-registered orchards.
  • KarnatakaBagalkot, Vijayapura and Chitradurga.
  • Andhra Pradesh and GujaratAnantapur; Kutch and Banaskantha.

Season

Growers time flowering (bahar), so fruit is available most of the year; the main export window is roughly December to May.

Export packing

  • Graded fruit in 3–5 kg corrugated cartons with cells or trays, from an APEDA-recognised packhouse.
  • Reefer containers for Europe and the Gulf; arils by air in chilled punnets.

Who buys abroad

  • Fruit importers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Nepal
  • European importers supplying supermarkets (Netherlands, UK)
  • Fresh-cut processors buying arils

The quality buyers ask for

Standard
Codex pomegranate standard (CXS 310-2013): Extra, Class I and Class II; size by weight or diameter
Fruit weight
Buyers order by count per carton; larger fruit earns more
Aril colour and sweetness
Deep red arils; total soluble solids checked by refractometer
Skin
No cracks, sunburn, bacterial blight spots or bruises
Residues
EU lots tested under AnarNet’s residue monitoring plan

Certificates

  • AnarNet farm registrationRequiredFarms supplying the EU must be registered on AnarNet, with lot-wise residue testing.
  • 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.
  • 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

40-ft reefers with pallets of 3–5 kg cartons; arils fly in chilled cups.

How it travels

Sea to the Gulf and Europe; trucks to Bangladesh and Nepal; air for arils and urgent orders.

Storage

Typically about 5–7 °C with 90–95% humidity; liners reduce weight loss and shrivelling.

Shelf life

Several weeks for whole fruit in cold chain; arils only days.

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.
  • AnarNet lot number and packhouse code on each carton for EU consignments.
  • 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

AnarNet residue sampling is done by APEDA-authorised laboratories (list on apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations). For other markets, use an NABL-accredited lab with pesticide residues in its scope (search nabl-india.org).

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 (AnarNet)Farm registration, residue testing and traceability on AnarNet for EU-bound fruit.apeda.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Pesticide residues within EU or buyer MRLs, lot by lot.
  • Freedom from bacterial blight and fruit borer damage; grade by size and colour.
  • Market-specific treatment where required (for example irradiation for the USA).
How to start small

Start with the Gulf by sea in reefers, buying from AnarNet-registered farmers so you can move to Europe later without changing suppliers.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Mixing fruit from unregistered farms into an EU lot — the whole consignment loses traceability.
  • Cracked or sun-scalded fruit packed to fill weight; buyers claim on arrival.

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. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)

Trade data

Indian fresh pomegranate exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 121 mn
+8.1% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +19%
US$ 101 mn → US$ 121 mn
Buyer countries
53
Average export price
US$ 1.14
per kg · 1,06,156 tonnes shipped · US$ 1.15 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 35.3 mnBangladesh: US$ 15.8 mnNetherlands: US$ 7.9 mnNepal: US$ 7.4 mnUnited States of America: US$ 4.4 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 4.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 3.8 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 3.5 mnMalaysia: US$ 3.5 mnOman: US$ 3.2 mnQatar: US$ 3.1 mnSingapore: US$ 2.6 mnFrance: US$ 1.9 mnEgypt: US$ 1.7 mnCanada: US$ 1.7 mnKuwait: US$ 1.5 mnAustralia: US$ 1.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 1 mnVietnam: US$ 910kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 35.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBangladesh: US$ 15.8 mnBangladeshNetherlands: US$ 7.9 mnNetherlandsNepal: US$ 7.4 mnNepalUnited States of America: US$ 4.4 mnUnited States of AmericaSaudi Arabia: US$ 4.4 mnSri Lanka: US$ 3.8 mnSri LankaUnited Kingdom: US$ 3.5 mnMalaysia: US$ 3.5 mnOman: US$ 3.2 mnQatar: US$ 3.1 mnSingapore: US$ 2.6 mnFrance: US$ 1.9 mnEgypt: US$ 1.7 mnCanada: US$ 1.7 mnKuwait: US$ 1.5 mnAustralia: US$ 1.2 mnIndonesia: US$ 1 mnVietnam: US$ 910kIndia
Where Indian fresh pomegranate goes — among our 30 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 81.6 mn822020-212021-22: US$ 107 mn1072021-222022-23: US$ 71.4 mn712022-232023-24: US$ 83.8 mn842023-242024-25: US$ 101 mn1012024-252025-26: US$ 121 mn1212025-26
India’s fresh pomegranate 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 2021-22 — a 30% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.96 per kg2021-22: US$ 0.88 per kg0.882022-23: US$ 0.91 per kg2024-25: US$ 1.15 per kg1.152025-26: US$ 1.14 per kg1.142020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian fresh pomegranate · 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$ 81.6 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 107 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 71.4 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 83.8 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 101 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 121 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 113 mn (US$ 87.5 mn – US$ 145 mn)1132026-272027-28: US$ 119 mn (US$ 89.9 mn – US$ 158 mn)1192027-28
India’s fresh pomegranate exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 119 mn

Likely range US$ 89.9 mn to US$ 158 mn.

Trend
+5.7% a year
Fit (R²)
0.28 — 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
1United Arab EmiratesUS$ 35.3 mn+0.1%
2BangladeshUS$ 15.8 mn+29.5%
3NetherlandsUS$ 7.9 mn+30.8%
4NepalUS$ 7.4 mn+27.2%
5United States of AmericaUS$ 4.4 mn+5.7%
6Saudi ArabiaUS$ 4.4 mn+9.5%
7Sri LankaUS$ 3.8 mn+47.8%
8United KingdomUS$ 3.5 mn+33%
9MalaysiaUS$ 3.5 mn+26.7%
10OmanUS$ 3.2 mn+32.5%
11QatarUS$ 3.1 mn+37.3%
12SingaporeUS$ 2.6 mn+10.9%

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. CanadaUS$ 930k → US$ 1.7 mn+81.7%
  2. SwitzerlandUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 2.2 mn+60%
  3. Sri LankaUS$ 2.6 mn → US$ 3.8 mn+47.8%
  4. MaldivesUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 2.5 mn+44.4%
  5. QatarUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 3.1 mn+37.3%
  6. BelgiumUS$ 1.5 mn → US$ 2 mn+33.6%
  7. United KingdomUS$ 2.6 mn → US$ 3.5 mn+33%
  8. OmanUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 3.2 mn+32.5%

Low demand

No sizeable country falls in this list this year.

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

  • Senegal · US$ 500k

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, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — pomegranates fresh0810 90 10US$ 98.1 mn+15.7%85,032 tonnesUS$ 1.15 per kgwas US$ 1.17
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — other fruits, frsh0810 90 90US$ 12.7 mn+38%10,381 tonnesUS$ 1.22 per kgwas US$ 1.21
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — tamarind fresh0810 90 20US$ 5.9 mn+86.9%6,803 tonnesUS$ 0.86 per kgwas US$ 0.76
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — custard-apple(ata)0810 90 40US$ 1.4 mn+3.8%1,486 tonnesUS$ 0.93 per kgwas US$ 1.03
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — sapota (chico)fresh0810 90 30US$ 1.2 mn-10.2%918 tonnesUS$ 1.34 per kgwas US$ 1.35
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — bore0810 90 50US$ 870k-18.7%1,076 tonnesUS$ 0.81 per kgwas US$ 0.83
Fruit, edible, fruits in heading no. 0801 to 0810, fresh — lichi0810 90 60US$ 340k+6.3%458 tonnesUS$ 0.74 per kgwas US$ 0.60

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$ 3.25 bn
2023
India among exporters
#12
of 139 countries
India’s share of world exports
2.2%
US$ 79.1 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 3.58 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1Viet NamUS$ 929 mn 25.4%
  2. 2ThailandUS$ 573 mn 15.7%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 320 mn 8.7%
  4. 4ChinaUS$ 221 mn 6%
  5. 5EcuadorUS$ 187 mn 5.1%
  6. 6EgyptUS$ 147 mn 4%
  7. 7TürkiyeUS$ 137 mn 3.7%
  8. 8United Arab EmiratesUS$ 102 mn 2.8%
  9. 9ColombiaUS$ 98.9 mn 2.7%
  10. 10SpainUS$ 93.9 mn 2.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 878 mn 27%
  2. 2USAUS$ 351 mn 10.8%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 217 mn 6.7%
  4. 4GermanyUS$ 179 mn 5.5%
  5. 5FranceUS$ 126 mn 3.9%
  6. 6China, Hong Kong SARUS$ 126 mn 3.9%
  7. 7IndonesiaUS$ 110 mn 3.4%
  8. 8Saudi ArabiaUS$ 98.6 mn 3%
  9. 9CanadaUS$ 93.5 mn 2.9%
  10. 10United Arab EmiratesUS$ 89.3 mn 2.7%

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.

ChinaUS$ 1.01 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.01 bn
United States of AmericaUS$ 376 mnIndia 1.7% · gap US$ 370 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 237 mnIndia 1.4% · gap US$ 233 mn
GermanyUS$ 191 mnIndia 0.6% · gap US$ 190 mn
FranceUS$ 129 mnIndia 1.8% · gap US$ 126 mn
IndonesiaUS$ 127 mnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 125 mn
CanadaUS$ 110 mnIndia 1.6% · gap US$ 109 mn
United KingdomUS$ 86.2 mnIndia 1% · gap US$ 85.3 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 77.6 mnIndia 13.6% · gap US$ 67 mn
ItalyUS$ 60.3 mnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 60.2 mn

HS 081090 is “other fresh fruit”; pomegranate is the largest part from India but not all of it. 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 pomegranate

India is one of the largest pomegranate producers and exporters, mainly of the Bhagwa variety from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat. Spain, Turkey, Peru, Iran and Egypt compete. Buyers in the Gulf, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Netherlands and the UK value Bhagwa’s deep red arils and long keeping. Openings include the EU through AnarNet, new markets opened by protocol (such as the USA with irradiation), and fresh arils in cups for retailers.

  1. 01Register farms on AnarNet

    For Europe, register farms and follow the approved spray list.

  2. 02Agree count and cartons

    Fix fruit count per carton, carton weight, colour and the price basis with the buyer.

  3. 03Test residues

    Have an APEDA-authorised lab sample and test the plot before harvest.

  4. 04Harvest, grade and pack

    Harvest ripe fruit, grade by weight in a recognised packhouse, and pre-cool.

  5. 05Certify and ship

    Get the phytosanitary certificate (through AnarNet for the EU), stuff the reefer and file the shipping bill.

  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 pomegranate

Which pomegranate variety exports best?
Bhagwa, for its colour, size and keeping quality.
Can I export arils instead of whole fruit?
Yes, but arils are a processed food: you need an FSSAI-licensed hygienic unit, microbial testing and air freight.
Why is bacterial blight a problem?
It scars the skin and makes fruit unfit for export grades; buy from orchards with good disease control.
Is AnarNet needed for the Gulf?
AnarNet is the EU requirement. Gulf buyers need the phytosanitary certificate and their own quality terms.
How long does whole fruit last?
Several weeks if kept cold and humid, which makes sea freight to Europe possible.
Sources (5)
  1. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (India’s position and exports, 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Other Fresh Fruits profile
  3. APEDA — HortiNet traceability (GrapeNet, AnarNet, MangoNet, VegNet)
  4. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  5. APEDA — Recognised organisations (list of recognised laboratories, FSMS bodies)

Who buys Indian fresh pomegranate

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