INDIA

Feedback from the Trade on Their Plans and Interest in the USA Pear Season:

The India pear market continues to expand. USA Pears are missing this growth cycle, primarily due to product unavailability. Trade in India would prefer USA Pears over a majority of other origins,. However, due to the projected short crop and unavailability of product for distant markets like India, most Indian importers are not sure if they will be able to secure any sizeable volume of pears for India from the U.S.

Expectations for Any Freight or Logistics Challenges:

There are no freight or logistics challenge that have been reported. The usual considerations in India remain, such as infrastructure, cold chain management, perishability, and handling of fruit in the last mile.

Opportunities in Your Market for Specific Varieties, Sizes, and Grades:

Indian consumers like pears that are crispy, juicy, and sweet. The market has a strong preference for Red and Green Anjou varieties, known for these qualities. Additionally, Bartlett pears are popular due to their sweet and soft texture.

Update on the Competition in the Market:

Pears from South Africa dominate the Indian market with over 75% market share. In the last 2 years, an increasing volume of pears from Chile has been seen in the market. In addition, 16% of the market share is with UAE. Since the UAE does not produce any pears, it is clear that banned Chinese pears are being illegally imported from there. India banned Chinese-origin pears in 2017. However, Asian pear varieties like Ya Pear or Shandong that are typically produced in China are regularly seen in the market and it is apparent that they are making their way into India illegally. European countries such as Belgium, Italy, and Spain also supply some pears to India.

Political or Economic Issues Impacting Imports, Retail, or Consumer Behavior:

US-India relations are at an all time high. No major disruptions are envisaged. Consumer behavior that saw a major shift towards healthy eating in the post-Covid period continues.

Other Brief Comments:

India is one of the fastest growing markets for pears. Even though it is a short crop year, it would be positive if the shippers can work with their importers and commit some volume for India. This will allow a presence of USA Pears in the market. South African pear supplies are not able to meet the demand growth in India and there is a clear 8-10 week opportunity for USA Pears in the market between November to February period.