In 2025, India’s reputation as a leading source of fresh pomegranates took an incredible leap forward. Exporters are reaching more people while keeping quality and compliance at the top of their lists. They do this by improving post-harvest practices and finding simpler routes to take longer routes. If you’re interested in pomegranate export from India,

This guide covers everything you need about Pomegranates Export, including opportunities and the proper steps to succeed.

Why India Leads in Pomegranates Export?

India’s best-selling types, like Bhagwa, Ganesh, Arakta, Mridula, and Ruby, have deep color, sweetness, and good storage quality that make them appealing for retail. They are grown in large amounts in Maharashtra and other states like Gujarat, Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Andhra Pradesh. This makes them available to traders at all times.

Over the last few seasons, quality work has been focused on better farm methods, controlling residue, and handling goods in the packhouse. The current pomegranate export from India model is shaped by the shelf-life investigations and route diversification pushed for by the government and research partners.

First Sea Shipment of Pomegranates to the U.S. in 2025

The year’s most significant development is India’s first commercial sea cargo of pomegranates to the United States. The shipment, which consisted of 4,620 boxes (~14 tons) of the Bhagwa variety, arrived on the U.S. East Coast in March after a transit of approximately five weeks. 

The national export authorities worked with agricultural study groups and U.S. regulatory agencies to make this pomegranate export from Mumbai possible. In New York, feedback on arrival quality was called “excellent.” India’s producers now have a scalable and less expensive option besides air freight for sending goods to faraway markets.

This success on the sea route came after approved static trials that increased the shelf life to 60 days and a pre-clearance program that started in December 2024. In February 2024, a previous test shipment by sea weighing 12.6 tons set sail. Because of these steps, quality and safety were less at risk over a longer cold chain, and plans were made for commercial runs in 2025.

Why do people want them?

In FY 2023-24, pomegranate export from India reached USD 69.08 million, covering 72,011 MT. From April to January of FY 2024–25, the value grew by 21% to USD 59.76 million. The UAE, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman, and the USA were some of the most important destinations for Pomegranate export. As manufacturers work to improve quality and consistency, the new U.S. sea route is expected to boost export volumes even further.

When planning, seasons and weather are important. Due to the heat, exporters usually see a break from April to June. When the next crop starts, they see a pick-up. Keeping marketing in line with these changes and what people in target markets want during festivals helps maximize returns.

Quality, compliance, and documentation

Pomegranates are won mainly by consistent quality and good documentation.

On-farm and packhouse

Consistent color, minimal defects, market-specific size tolerance, meticulous grading/sorting, hygienic packing, and effective pre-cooling.

Residues and tracking

All documents for an export shipment must match, including the invoice, packing list, phytosanitary certificate, and shipping papers. The shipments must also meet residue limits.

Protocols for accessing markets

In the U.S., producers must follow specific regulations and use pre-clearance systems.

Tip

Maintain an “export file” for each lot, including orchard details, harvest date, treatments, packhouse logs, temperature, lab reports, and photos. It speeds up checks, handling claims, and building trust in the brand.

Also Read This: A Complete Guide to the Shipper’s Letter of Instruction Format

Transport: Air vs Sea

For small or important projects, air freight is still valuable, but sea freight is better for long-distance markets. The 2025 arrival in New York showed that Indian pomegranates can arrive in great shape after about 5 weeks if the right post-harvest and cold-chain controls are in place. As lines gain trust through regular sailings, you can expect unit cost savings, better sustainability optics, and more stable programs.

For sea programs, exporters should make sure that the carton and liner specifications cover dehydration, forced-air pre-cooling, set-point discipline (pulp temperature), ethylene management, and data logging during transport to make sure performance is checked at every step of the way.

Key Challenges in Pomegranates Export

Heat events and rain can shorten or move export windows, so make sure your shipping and purchasing schedules are flexible.

Market competition exists between countries like Turkey and Spain. India will have an advantage because its products will be of uniform size and color, have fewer defects, and arrive on time. (Branding around Bhagwa in different areas helps.)

Lack of documentation and residue that doesn’t follow the rules can cause delays or rejections; make sure that your lab tests and statements follow the rules of the target market.

Expanding in the U.S. and International Markets

India is in a good position to increase programmed pomegranates export to premium markets because they have already shown that it can do it on the U.S. sea route and has a strong local production base. The government’s push for sea procedures and pre-clearance, along with private exporters’ investments in farms, point to steady growth in the future, especially for Bhagwa-led types. India is now a more reliable choice for buyers who can use it throughout the year. For growers, the variety of routes can mean better, more stable returns.

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