Fifteen years ago, frozen french fries in India mostly arrived on ships docking in Mumbai and Chennai. Today, they are exported from Gujarat to markets in Dubai, Manila, Kuala Lumpur, and other destinations.
India has shifted from being a small importer of frozen fries to a growing exporter. The change stems from a combination of agricultural research, industry partnerships, and processing technology that turned local potatoes into a product for international supply chains.
India produces more than 50 million tons of potatoes each year, second only to China. Until recently, most of this production was used for table consumption and starch. The transition to processed frozen products began when processors identified the potential for fries, wedges, and hash browns demanded by global quick-service restaurants.
From 2018 onwards, investment from companies such as McCain Foods, HyFun Foods, Iscon Balaji, and Falcon Agrifriz led to advanced processing facilities with contract farming and cold-chain infrastructure. Within five years, India's frozen potato export volume increased by more than 40 per cent, reaching 180,000 tons in 2024–25.
Gujarat has become the centre of India's frozen fry production. Its soil and climatic conditions favour potato varieties suitable for processing. The state hosts large processing plants, including HyFun Foods in Mehsana, McCain India in Mehsana, Iscon Balaji Foods in Deesa, and Falcon Agrifriz in Patan. Together, these processors handle about 80 per cent of the country's frozen fry output.
Contract farming remains central to production, with processors supplying certified seed, agronomic guidance, and procurement guarantees. This system supports the cultivation of processing-grade potatoes and reduces price volatility for growers.
Processing facilities in India have adopted automation and digital control systems, including optical sorters, AI-based moisture sensors, and pulsed electric field cutters. These technologies have improved consistency and yield while supporting exports to more than 30 countries.
Agricultural research has underpinned the sector's development. The Central Potato Research Institute (CPRI) developed the Kufri Frysona variety, designed for processing with high dry matter and low sugar content. Private processors later introduced European varieties such as Santana and Innovator to meet export standards.
India's frozen fries now reach markets across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, supported by competitive pricing and integrated logistics. Export growth is driven by contract farming, processing automation, and cold-chain efficiency.
The industry continues to face challenges related to energy costs, labour availability, and the need for climate-resilient potato varieties. Expansion into regions such as Punjab and Uttar Pradesh is planned to sustain output growth.
India's approach, combining research, contract farming, and industrial processing, is now being observed by other developing agricultural economies aiming to expand their value-added export capacity.
Source: PotatoPro
