It is possible that India's apple imports could fall this season; as of the end of January, for the season from August 2015 to July 2016, imports of the fruit were 15 per cent down from a year before. According to Washington Apple Commission, which represents growers and trade and export promoters of the fruit grown in that US state, their sales to India would be around 2.5 million cartons (each having 20 kg), compared to 5.5 million in the previous season, from August 2014 to July 2015.
Total apple import by India is typically around 10 million cartons a year; last year, a little more than half of this was of the Washington apple. Its overall production for the year, for which the harvesting period was from August to November 2015, was 115 million cartons, compared to 140 million in the same period of previous year, said Todd Fryhover, president, Washington Apple Commission.
“Last year, India was the third largest importer of our apples after Mexico and Canada,” said Fryhover. This year, India is expected to be the fourth largest.
The production in India is estimated around 2.2 million tonnes a year. “India also imports apple from Chile and China,” said Keith Sunderlal, India representative on the Commission.
Large corporate importers of the Washington apple in India include the Future Group, Adani Group and Reliance, they added.
