There's strong demand for apples in India, while import levels are lower than in previous years, says Prashant Gidwani, director of fresh fruit importer Fresh Fruit Alliances Pvt. Ltd.: "At the moment, there's a shortage of the local apple stocks in the CA rooms. As there are strong market conditions, this shortage is expected to continue, as demand for apples remains high. On the other hand, the overall import volumes are slightly lower compared to past seasons, adding up to a strong market for those who have imported apples. With favorable weather conditions and efficient supply chain management, India's apple import sector is poised for a successful conclusion to the season, ensuring steady availability for consumers and stable prices in the market."
© Fresh Fruit Alliances Pvt. Ltd.
According to Gidwani, the strong demand has resulted in higher prices than in previous years, but the consumers seem to have accepted these prices. "South Africa has emerged as an important source of apples, with the right price points, combined with great quality. The Flash Gala and the African Red varieties are gaining momentum and are expected to rise in the coming years. Prices for apples vary from $1.80 to $2.50/kg, depending on origin, variety, and size. Prices are quite high compared to previous years. Given this year's short supply, these higher prices appear to be accepted by consumers. It would be interesting to see whether or not these prices can be sustained in a normal crop year."
With the domestic harvest entering the market, Gidwani expects prices to drop quite a bit for the average quality apple: "The domestic apple season arrives early this season, it's expected to begin in the first half of July. The size and the coloration seem to be good, thanks to the early monsoon and favorable climatic conditions. Once the local apples are available on the market, the market is likely to undergo a shift. Apple prices may drop significantly for average-quality apples. However, premium varieties such as Queen, New Zealand high colored Galas, and such, will remain strong, since they cater to the niche segment."
"One of the challenges is the penetration of the market. Investing in this area is a continuous process, and we have recently added our fifth distribution center in Bangalore. We're now distributing throughout the country, through our distribution hubs in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, as well as in Bangalore. Fresh Fruit Alliances continues to grow its market share and imports uninterrupted from around the globe, in order to service the needs of our customers across 500 cities in India," Gidwani concludes.
For more information:
Prashant Gidwani
Fresh Fruit Alliances Pvt. Ltd.
Email: [email protected]
www.freshfruitalliances.com
