India’s banana production is not only meeting domestic demand but is also making its way into banana puddings and cookies across the Middle East, as per a market analysis.
In FY25, bananas overtook grapes to become India’s top fruit export, with shipments valued at $377.5 million. Banana exports grew 29.7 percent year-on-year (YoY) and have expanded seven-fold since FY18. In contrast, grape exports have increased just 16 percent over the past eight years.
Experts attribute this shift to lower prices and rising demand from the Middle East.
“The low price of Indian bananas has helped support exports. We have also seen increased interest from Middle Eastern countries,” said BV Patil, President, Banana Grower’s Association of India. Patil added that FY26 exports are likely to surpass last year’s figures.
The Middle Eastern push is clearly visible in trade data. Iraq accounted for 47 percent of India’s total banana exports in FY25, marking a 108 percent increase from the previous year. Other major buyers include Iran, the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Qatar.
Commerce ministry data also shows signs of trade diversification. A doubling of banana exports to Uzbekistan helped the Central Asian nation emerge as India’s second-largest banana importer in FY25.
While the Middle East leads in banana imports, the Netherlands, Russia, and the UK accounted for over 60 percent of India’s grape exports.
Media had earlier reported that India was working to improve safety standards to secure greater market access for fruits like grapes, bananas, and pomegranates in the United States.
Bananas and grapes made up 59.2 percent of India’s total fruit exports in FY25, up from 44.4 percent in FY18. This growth comes as India’s overall fruit and nut exports surged 53 percent — from $806.9 million in FY18 to $1.24 billion in FY25.
Raisin exports from India also doubled during this period, rising to $72 million from $37 million. Exports of strawberries, cranberries, and raspberries have similarly increased over the past eight years.
