Successful commercial trial comes as India’s pomegranate exports see 20 per cent surge
In a significant milestone for India’s agricultural exports, the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has facilitated India’s first-ever commercial trial shipments of premium Sangola and Bhagwa pomegranates to Australia via sea.
The sea shipment, made in collaboration with AgroStar and Kay Bee Exports, follows successful air trials in 2024 which helped assess market demand.
The sea freight departed from India on 6 December 2024, and arrived in Sydney on 13 January 2025, with 5.7 tonnes of pomegranates sourced from the Solapur region of Maharashtra. Another commercial sea shipment carrying 6.56 tonnes of the Bhagwa variety arrived in Brisbane, Australia, on 6 January 2025.
The shipment’s timing was strategically aligned with Australia’s non-producing season, maximising market opportunities for Indian exporters.
APEDA chairman, Abhishek Dev, said the pomegranates received an overwhelmingly positive response in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne and had already led to requests for additional shipments.
“India’s agricultural export landscape is growing at an unprecedented pace, with fresh fruit exports surging by 29 per cent year-on-year. Pomegranates alone have seen a 20 per cent growth, demonstrating the immense potential of this segment,” Dev said. “The successful shipments of premium pomegranates to Australia marks India’s ability to supply high-quality fresh produce to discerning international markets. Through advanced traceability systems like ANARNET, we ensure that Indian agricultural products meet the highest global standards, enhancing consumer trust worldwide.”
Dev also emphasised APEDA’s role in securing and facilitating market access for Indian farmers.
“We are committed to supporting Indian farmers and agri-entrepreneurs by expanding into new and emerging markets,” Dev explained. “This success story paves the way for further collaborations and increased export volumes in the future.”
With the next export season beginning in September, APEDA said AgroStar’s INI Farms, Kay Bee Exports and other key players were poised to build on the success, ensuring a steady supply of Indian pomegranates to Australia.
