There was a substantial growth in Indian banana exports, both in volume and in value terms in the past three financial years. Importing countries have been preferring bananas over grapes, mangoes or apples in the fresh fruit basket.
Between 2017-18 and 2019-20, the fresh banana exports saw a growth of 93.94 per cent in terms of quantity, and 72.22 per cent in terms of value. The country exported 195,000 tonnes of fresh bananas valued at $93 million in 2019-20, against 102,000 tonnes valued at $54 million in 2017-18.
In spite of the pandemic affecting the globe, India exported 143,000 tonnes of fresh bananas valued at $63 million in the first nine months of the current financial year.
Pomegranate appears to be the next choice for the overseas importers in the fresh fruit basket. Fresh pomegranate exports saw a growth of 63.05 per cent in terms of quantity and 15.11 per cent in terms of value between 2017-18 and 2019-20.
Around 85,430 tonnes ($99 million) of pomegranates were exported in 2019-20 as against 52,392 tonnes ($86 million) in 2017-18.
