India enjoys year-round availability of imported kiwifruit, mainly the Hayward variety, brought in from Chile, Iran, and New Zealand, with smaller quantities arriving from Greece and Italy, says Jatin Bajaj of fresh produce importer Gyan Fruit Company. "The good news is that Iranian supply has increased by 150%, making their fruit far cheaper this season. New Zealand kiwis tend to be the priciest, with Chile close behind."
Bajaj notes that Iranian kiwifruit shipments have arrived earlier than usual this season: "Typically, the season begins around mid-October, but this year we started receiving Iranian kiwis by mid-September. The availability is mainly due to early-maturing Hayward fruit being harvested and shipped ahead of schedule." He points to smaller fruit sizes linked to the early harvest and anticipates larger sizes to follow as the season progresses."
© Gyan Fruit Company
Fresh supply from Iran will continue until February, followed by cold storage arrivals through June. "Chilean kiwis generally start arriving from the second week of June to late September, overlapping with New Zealand fruit. But arrivals always depend on harvest timing and market conditions at the end of the season," Bajaj explains.
With the Chilean season wrapped up last month, Bajaj shares, "There were dry matter quality issues in certain arrivals, but overall we saw about 870 containers from week 19 to week 38, which was well above last year's shipments." Iranian fruit quality has been consistent so far, and Bajaj says larger sizes should appear soon.
Prices have seen some shifts as well. "Chilean kiwi prices were at least 15% costlier than last season. Rates can vary depending on the shipper, but the increase made things tough for Indian importers. On the other hand, better pricing on Iranian kiwis due to the bigger crop has been a welcome relief for everyone in the trade."
© Gyan Fruit Company
Bajaj also highlights bottlenecks at Iranian ports during peak season, "which can impact arrival timelines and quality. We grapple with similar logistics challenges on the Chilean side, and it would help to have shipping companies set up direct routes to India, like the 'Cherry Express' vessels operating to China."
For most Indian buyers, affordability remains at the forefront. "Price continues to play a big role and Iranian kiwis lead the market simply because they're affordable for most consumers." With India's wedding season underway, Bajaj expects a sharp pickup in supply to meet growing nationwide demand.
For more information:
Jatin Bajaj
Gyan Fruit Company
Tel: +91 99 99 666 013
Email: [email protected]
www.gyanfruit.com