The growth of our citrus exports to India increased by a remarkable 85% in 2025, compared with 2024. This comes on the back of continued increased exports - from just below 4,000 pallets in 2016 to 54,000 in 2025.
Boitshoko Ntshabele
Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen is set to visit India in the next few days. The visit is set to deepen ties across trade and agriculture. For South Africa’s citrus industry — our country's largest agricultural export sector — this is a moment to acknowledge both the recent growth in citrus exports to India, as well as the immense potential that this massive market holds for local growers and our rural economies.
India’s appeal is not difficult to grasp. At over 1.47 billion people, it is the world’s largest consumer base. But scale alone is not the story. What distinguishes India today is how that scale is evolving.
Health awareness is rising. A growing middle class is developing a taste for premium produce. So-called "quick commerce" is expanding noticeably. These broader trends are relevant to the local citrus industry. At the same time, India’s production cycle does not align with year-round demand. This is a gap that counter-seasonal producers are positioned to fill. South Africa fits that profile with precision.
