To Which Countries Does India Export Apple Fruit?

India grows apples across a narrow band of hill states, mainly Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand. That’s a small footprint compared to giants like China, the US, or Poland, and India actually imports far more apples than it sends abroad. Still, a real export trade exists, and it’s growing. Here’s a straight answer to which countries India export apple fruit to, and why the list looks the way it does.

Does India Even Export Apples?

Yes, though it’s a smaller story than most people expect. India has a large and diverse agricultural and food products export sector, with fruits forming an important part of its horticultural export basket. APEDA lists apples alongside bananas, grapes, pomegranates, mangoes, oranges, papayas, guavas and other fruits among India’s fresh-fruit export products.

Apples are a good example of the difference between domestic production and export potential. India produces substantial quantities of apples, but its export volumes remain relatively modest compared with its overall production. APEDA data shows that India exported about 52,976 metric tonnes of fresh apples in 2022–23, with Bangladesh and Nepal accounting for the largest shares. In 2024–25, fresh-apple exports were around 34,030 metric tonnes.

The broader picture is more encouraging for India’s agricultural and food products, particularly fruits and processed foods. During 2024–25, India exported about $999.55 million worth of fresh fruits and $721.86 million worth of processed fruits and juices, according to APEDA. Major fresh-fruit export destinations included Bangladesh, the UAE, Iraq, the Netherlands, Nepal, Malaysia, the UK, Sri Lanka, Oman and Uzbekistan.

So the honest picture is this: India is a major agricultural and food-producing country with a growing fruit-export sector, but individual products perform very differently in international markets. Apples remain a relatively small export category compared with India’s larger fruit exports, such as grapes, pomegranates, mangoes and bananas.

Which Countries Does India Export Apples To?

1. Nepal

Nepal is one of India’s steadiest apple markets. Land access through the northern border keeps freight costs low, and Nepali retailers regularly stock Himachal and Kashmir apple varieties during India’s harvest season.

2. Bangladesh

Bangladesh imports Indian apples along the same land and river routes it uses for other fresh produce from India. Proximity and lower transit time give Indian apples a practical edge over apples shipped in from further away.

3. United Arab Emirates

The UAE is a major buyer of fresh produce from India across categories, and apples are part of that basket. Dubai’s re-export hub also means apples landing there sometimes move on to other Gulf and African markets.

4. Bahrain

APEDA, working with the Himachal Pradesh Horticultural Produce Marketing and Processing Corporation, sent a shipment of five apple varieties, Royal Delicious, Dark Baron Gala, Scarlet Spur, Red Velox, and Golden Delicious, to Bahrain as part of an apple promotion program with a local retailer. That kind of retail tie-in is a common way Indian apples get introduced to new Gulf markets.

5. Other Middle Eastern Countries

Beyond the UAE and Bahrain, apples from Himachal Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir move in smaller volumes to other West Asian markets. Trade guides on apple exports point to this region as one of the more consistent growth areas for Indian apple shipments, alongside Nepal and Bangladesh.

6. Canada

Canada has emerged as a buyer of higher-grade Indian apples, particularly varieties like Jolly Red that meet the sizing and cosmetic standards Western retail buyers expect. This is a smaller volume market compared to Nepal or Bangladesh, but it signals that Indian apple quality is starting to clear the bar for developed-market retail.

7. Singapore

Singapore has become a newer destination for premium hill-fruit shipments from Jammu & Kashmir. APEDA helped arrange the first shipment of high-density European cherries and plums from Shopian and Pulwama to Singapore in mid-2026, building on the same cold-chain and export infrastructure that supports Kashmir’s apple trade. As that infrastructure matures, apple shipments to Singapore and similar markets are likely to follow the same path.

8. United States

Trial and small-batch shipments of Indian apples have started reaching the US market, largely from growers producing to export-grade standards. Volumes remain limited, but the US remains one of the markets Indian exporters are actively trying to break into as post-harvest handling improves.

Where India’s Export Apples Actually Come From

Almost all of India’s apple exports trace back to three states:

• Himachal Pradesh: The state has an established agri-export zone covering districts like Shimla, Kullu, Mandi, and Kinnaur, set up to support apple exports to neighboring countries as well as West Asia and Southeast Asia.
• Jammu & Kashmir: Kashmir’s apple orchards, along with newer high-density cherry and plum plantings in Shopian and Pulwama, form the backbone of the region’s fresh-fruit export program, supported directly by APEDA.
• Uttarakhand: Apples from Pauri Garhwal, especially the King Roat variety, have started reaching Gulf markets through trial shipments, including a first consignment of Garhwali apples that moved from Dehradun to Dubai.

APEDA has also been opening regional offices, including one in Dehradun, to give growers in these newer apple-producing pockets more direct support in reaching export markets.

Why India’s Apple Export Volumes Stay Small

A few practical factors keep India’s apple exports well below its production volume:

1. Domestic demand absorbs most of the crop. Apple consumption inside India runs above 2.6 million metric tons a year, which leaves a limited surplus for export once local markets and processors take their share.
2. Cold chain gaps limit reach. Much of India’s apple-growing region still lacks the storage and transport infrastructure needed to keep fruit in export condition over longer distances.
3. Grading standards vary by farm. Export buyers expect consistent sizing and appearance. Apples are graded into size classes and quality tiers like AAA, AA, and A, but not every grower or mandi applies these consistently.
4. Competing imports set the price bar. Turkish, Iranian, and other imported apples already dominate India’s own retail shelves, which shows how competitive the international apple trade is even within India’s home market.

What It Takes to Export Apples from India

For anyone looking at apple sourcing from India, the process generally follows this pattern:

1. APEDA registration: Exporters should complete the applicable registration and comply with the requirements for exporting fresh agricultural and food products.
2. Sourcing from registered growers or state marketing bodies: Organizations and exporters may work with established growers, producer groups and state-level agricultural organizations to source export-quality fruit.
3. Focus on India’s leading exported fruits: Grapes are among India’s most important fresh-fruit exports from india, alongside pomegranates, mangoes, bananas and oranges. APEDA reports that these fruits account for a large portion of India’s fresh-fruit export basket. In FY 2025–26, India exported about 224,401 tonnes of fresh grapes, worth approximately US$368 million.
4. Grading and packing: Apples and other fruits are sorted according to size, appearance, quality and destination-market requirements before being packed for export. Proper post-harvest handling is particularly important for products that need to withstand long-distance transportation.
5. Phytosanitary and compliance documentation: Exporters need to meet the phytosanitary, food-safety and documentation requirements applicable to the destination market. Requirements can vary by fruit and importing country; APEDA continues to issue market-specific guidance for products such as grapes, mangoes, pomegranates and oranges.
6. Freight and delivery: Land routes can be practical for nearby markets such as Nepal and Bangladesh, while sea and air freight are used for Gulf, European, Southeast Asian and other international destinations. For example, India’s major fresh-fruit export destinations include Bangladesh, the UAE, Iraq, the Netherlands, Nepal, Malaysia, the UK, Sri Lanka, Oman and Uzbekistan.

How Sourcing Partners Fit Into the Picture

For international buyers who want Indian apples or other agro produce without managing farm-level sourcing themselves, working with an established trade partner cuts down on a lot of the coordination work. Companies like Srindhya Global work across India’s FMCG and agro product categories, connecting buyers to verified manufacturers and growers while handling documentation and logistics on their end. Srindhya Global’s model of working without rigid minimum order quantities makes it a practical option for buyers testing a new product category, including apples, before committing to larger recurring volumes. For buyers new to Indian sourcing, checking that a partner holds current APEDA registration is a reasonable first step, since it’s the same requirement Indian exporters themselves must meet.

Where This Is Headed

India’s apple export story is still small next to its apple import numbers, but the direction is worth watching. Trial shipments to Dubai, first-time exports to Singapore, and steady growth in Nepal and Bangladesh all point to state governments and APEDA pushing harder on export infrastructure in the hill states. As cold chain networks improve in Uttarakhand and grading standards become more consistent across Himachal and Kashmir orchards, buyers in Gulf, Southeast Asian, and even Western markets are likely to see more Indian apple varieties on offer.