India's kiwi imports are growing steadily, driven by increasing consumer demand for quality fruit. Retailers are showing increased awareness of quality parameters like firmness, sweetness, and origin-specific characteristics, reflecting a maturing market. Hanissh Battra, founder of fresh produce importer Ever Green Fruits, says the kiwi import season is going strong with 80 shipments completed, including 71 from Iran and nine from Chile. "Iranian kiwis held stable prices and strong market favor," he notes, while Chilean kiwis faced a downtrend due to quality and cost issues.
"Chilean kiwis struggle with long transit times to India, increasing risks of quality degradation. Extended shipping and storage lead to a rubbery texture in early Hayward kiwis, hurting consumer demand," according to Battra. "High freight and purchase prices increased landing costs, even with a preferential tariff of around 15% under India's trade agreement with Chile. Market prices dipped due to oversupply, weakening profitability, and making Chilean kiwis less competitive. In contrast, Iranian kiwi prices rose 20% over the last year, but consistent quality supported positive market response," he explains.
© Ever Green Fruits
Quality across both origins has been solid this season. "The Hayward variety remains dominant, with variants like butterfly kiwis failing to gain traction. Hayward continues to lead due to its widespread acceptance," Battra observes. This growing awareness underscores the need for importers to prioritize quality and origin-specific traits to meet demand.
Battra mentions that the season faced no major challenges so far, thanks to diversified sourcing from Iran, Chile, Australia, Greece, and Italy, though his company imports primarily from Iran and Chile. "Given that tariffs significantly shape import strategies, Chile's lower tariff rate provides an edge over the standard 33% applied to most origins," he adds. Hanissh is hopeful about future tariff reductions to boost volumes from other countries. "Looking ahead, Australia is a promising new source due to positive feedback on its quality and Brix levels, while Greece is also on our radar," he says, as these origins could diversify supply and enhance competitiveness.
© Ever Green Fruits
Price expectations remain a key concern. Heavy arrivals have kept prices low relative to landing costs, but Battra anticipates a shift. "With Chile's controlled atmosphere storage volumes declining, we expect prices to rise. This supply reduction could tighten the market, impacting importers and retailers," he predicts.
Moving ahead, Battra believes future sourcing decisions will also be influenced by how transparent and environmentally responsible producers are. "It will not only be about quality and price, but also about ethical production and supply chain reliability, " he says. As importers like Ever Green Fruits navigate tariffs, transit risks, and supply dynamics, the focus remains on delivering high-quality kiwis to meet rising demand. "We will be closely monitoring logistical trends and foreign exchange impacts, as both factors heavily influence cost structures and competitiveness across kiwi origins," Battra concludes.
For more information:
Hanissh Battra
Ever Green Fruits
Email: [email protected]
www.evergreenfruits.in
