India’s apple import market is in full swing, driven by steady supply from diverse origins like Iran, Afghanistan, Turkey, South Africa, Poland, New Zealand, Chile, USA, Greece, and Italy, meeting strong appetite for taste and quality. “Out of these, Iranian apples have captured the mass market with low prices,” says Ashok Agarwal, CEO of fresh produce trader Triyambakam International, highlighting Iran’s competitive edge in cost and transit time.
“While Iran dominates with affordable apples at USD 1.2 per kg, leveraging fast four-to-five-day transits, Turkish apples priced at USD 2.3 per kg attract premium buyers for reliable quality. Turkish apples have also stood out for consistent pricing and quality,” Agarwal notes. “Other origins like South Africa and New Zealand have performed well, but Polish Gala apples saw 15-20% losses in every container this year due to rot, which hurt supply reliability,” he adds.
Triyambakam serves the domestic sector and exports to Dubai, navigating a crowded market. According to Agarwal, fierce competition has been challenging profitability, only worsened by apples’ perishability: “Tough competition has cut our margins in oversupplied markets. We address this by refining demand forecasts and using credible cold-chain logistics to maintain quality,” he explains.
“Tariff hikes are further adding pressure, with Iran’s custom duties on apples mirroring those of Turkish apples. The Indian government recently announced a hike in Minimum Import Price from USD 0.6 to USD 0.9 per kg with the import duty fixed at 50%. This will hurt our margins,” Agarwal warns as these tariffs tie up cash at customs while straining finance.
Looking ahead, Agarwal eyes new origins like Siberia, Brazil, Ukraine, and Moldova to diversify supply. “We’re exploring new origins to diversify apple imports, but would need exporters’ support for trials,” he states, citing importers’ reluctance to test unproven varieties. With India’s apple season starting in August and running through December, import decisions will hinge on pricing and tariff impacts, particularly for Iranian apples.
