Brazil gains market access for citrus exports to India
South African lemons also make strong entry as citrus trade with India accelerates.
BRAZIL – Brazilian citrus growers can now export to India following a new agreement announced by industry body Abrafrutas this week.
The development allows Brazil to ship limes, lemons, oranges, and tangerines to one of the world’s largest consumer markets.
“The opening of the Indian market to Brazilian citrus fruits represents another victory for agro-commercial diplomacy and a great opportunity for the fruit sector,” said Luiz Eduardo Raffaelli, director of Abrafrutas.
“India has enormous consumption potential and, with this new access, we are expanding not only the destination of our exports, but also the recognition of the quality of our production.”
India has historically relied on citrus imports from Egypt, which supplies around 60 percent of the country’s foreign citrus volumes. But newer entrants like Australia and South Africa have been expanding their presence.
With Brazil’s entry, the competition is expected to increase, bringing more variety to Indian consumers and boosting trade ties between the two countries.
Brazil, one of the top citrus producers in the world, mainly grows its citrus in the states of São Paulo, Minas Gerais, and Bahia. The country also recently gained approval to export avocados to India, as well as to Chile, Costa Rica, and Japan.
South African lemons arrive for 2025 season
The Brazilian development follows closely on the heels of another major update in citrus trade with India. South Africa has shipped its first batch of lemons for the 2025 season.
The shipment, made by FruitOne, arrived at Jawaharlal Nehru Port and was welcomed by Indian importer IG International.
“We are delighted to announce the arrival of the first shipment of South African lemons in India for the season,” said Boitshoko Ntshabele, CEO of the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa (CGA).
“This shipment signifies the strong trade relationship between South Africa and India. It starts the season and hopefully also starts an era of increased exports and opportunities for our two countries.”
The delivery included 1,600 cartons of lemons transported aboard the vessel Navios Verde. For FruitOne, this marks a key moment in its broader citrus strategy in India.
“India, just because of its sheer population size and its growing middle-class, is important to South African fruit’s future,” said Leardt van der Burgh, Head of Commercial at FruitOne.
“The FruitOne brand is known in India, and it is important for us to supply the whole citrus basket to this market. Adding lemons to this basket in 2025 is a big step forward in this regard.”
With both Brazil and South Africa actively increasing their citrus trade with India, consumers in the country can expect better availability and more choice throughout the year.
The developments are seen as positive signs for global fruit trade and for citrus growers looking to reach new markets.
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