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Processed food

Export soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages

Mango and fruit drinks, jaljeera, lassi and flavoured milk, energy drinks and sodas — heavy and low-value, so freight decides margins.

Free to exportHS 2202
HS code
2202
Waters with added sugar or flavour and other non-alcoholic beverages: aerated waters, lemonade (2202 10), non-alcoholic beer (2202 91), fruit-pulp drinks, milk-based drinks (2202 99).
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Milk-based drinks may also need an EIC certificate where the importing country asks for one.
Registrations
5
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 86.7 mn
to 70 countries

What is exported

India exports fruit-pulp drinks (especially mango), aerated drinks, flavoured milk and lassi, and traditional drinks such as jaljeera and aam panna. APEDA lists aerated waters among the main miscellaneous preparations exported; that group went mainly to the USA, the UAE, Malaysia, the UK and Australia in 2025-26.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Fruit-pulp and juice-based drinks (2202 99 20)Mango drinks lead.
  • Aerated waters and lemonade (2202 10)Colas, sodas and Indian-flavoured sodas.
  • Milk-based drinks (2202 99 30)Lassi, flavoured milk, cold coffee.
  • Traditional and energy drinks (2202 99 90)Jaljeera, aam panna, coconut-based and energy drinks.

Where it is grown or made

  • Maharashtra and GujaratBottling plants around Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad.
  • Andhra Pradesh and Tamil NaduMango-drink makers near the pulp clusters.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and PunjabSoft-drink and dairy-drink plants.

Export packing

  • PET bottles, cans, Tetra Pak and glass in shrink-wrapped trays, palletised in dry containers.
  • Liquids hit the container weight limit before the space limit — plan load by weight.

Who buys abroad

  • Indian and South Asian grocery distributors in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia and the Gulf
  • Gulf hypermarket chains and their private labels
  • Distributors in Africa and neighbouring countries

The quality buyers ask for

Additives
Only colours, preservatives and additives permitted in the destination, at permitted levels
Sugar and sweeteners
Sugar content and sweeteners declared; check sugar taxes and limits in the destination
Microbiology
Meets the destination’s microbiological criteria and the buyer’s specification
Shelf life
Buyers usually want at least two-thirds of the shelf life left on arrival

Certificates

  • FSSAI licenceRequiredCentral licence from FSSAI for the premises where the food is made, packed or stored for export. Apply on FoSCoS.
  • APEDA RCMCRequiredRegistration with APEDA, issued as an RCMC on the DGFT portal. Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without it.
  • ISO 22000 / FSSC 22000Often askedFood-safety management certification; FSSC 22000 is GFSI-recognised, which large retailers and brands look for.
  • HalalOften askedAsked for by many buyers in the Gulf, Malaysia and Indonesia. Use a body the destination recognises.
  • US FDA food-facility registrationOften askedEvery facility making food for the USA must register with the FDA, and each shipment needs prior notice. Canned and acidified foods also need FCE/SID process filing.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Palletised trays in 20-ft dry containers, loaded to the weight limit (liquids reach it before the space limit).

How it travels

Sea freight.

Storage

Cool and out of the sun; milk drinks as the label says.

Shelf life

Typically 6–12 months for most packed drinks.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • EU retail packs (Regulation 1169/2011): name of the food, ingredients with allergens highlighted, net quantity, best-before or use-by date, storage conditions, the EU importer’s name and address, origin where required — in the language of the country of sale.
  • USA (21 CFR 101): product name, net quantity in US and metric units, ingredients, major allergens (including sesame), the packer’s or distributor’s name and place of business, Nutrition Facts unless exempt, and “Product of India”.
  • Gulf countries: Arabic text (Arabic plus English is normal), production and expiry dates, net weight, country of origin and importer details. Confirm current rules with your importer.
  • Lot or batch number on every pack and carton, matching the invoice and packing list, so the goods can be traced and recalled.
Where to get it tested

Use an FSSAI-notified laboratory (fssai.gov.in → notified labs) or an NABL-accredited lab with your product and test in scope (nabl-india.org). APEDA-recognised labs are listed on apeda.gov.in → Quality → Recognised Organisations. Ask the buyer which lab reports they accept before you send samples.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • FSSAIFood business licence. Food exporters come under the Central licence; apply on FoSCoS and keep it valid for the premises you make or pack from.foscos.fssai.gov.in ↗
  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • Buyer-country food registrationMany importing countries register the foreign plant or the product — for example US FDA food-facility registration, GACC registration for China, or product registration in some Gulf states. Check APEDA’s importing-country regulations page.apeda.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Labels made for the destination: ingredients, allergens, net quantity, best-before date, importer details and the language that country requires.
  • Only colours, preservatives and additives permitted in the destination, at permitted levels.
  • Sugar taxes and front-of-pack rules in Gulf and other markets (for example excise on sweetened drinks in GCC countries) — check with your importer.
  • Microbiology and shelf-life tests from an NABL-accredited or FSSAI-notified lab.
How to start small

Start with a mango drink or a traditional beverage in PET or cans from an existing bottler, and add it to a mixed Indian-food container to a Gulf or diaspora distributor. Since 15 September 2026, a consignment worth up to ₹3 lakh FOB does not need an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27); licences that a law requires, such as FSSAI, still apply.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Freight eats the margin — liquids are heavy; quote CIF only after a firm freight rate.
  • Shipping with the Indian label — wrong format, undeclared allergens or a non-permitted colour gets the goods detained or destroyed.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (5)
  1. APEDA — Miscellaneous Preparations (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  3. APEDA — Importing countries’ regulations
  4. FSSAI — FoSCoS food licensing portal
  5. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 86.7 mn
+30.2% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↓ -11.5%
US$ 98 mn → US$ 86.7 mn
Buyer countries
70
Average export price
US$ 2.05
per kg · 42,251 tonnes shipped · US$ 2.50 the year before
United Arab Emirates: US$ 44.2 mnUnited Kingdom: US$ 7.1 mnUnited States of America: US$ 6.8 mnCanada: US$ 3.4 mnBhutan: US$ 2.9 mnAustralia: US$ 2.6 mnHong Kong: US$ 2.3 mnNepal: US$ 2 mnMaldives: US$ 1.8 mnSouth Africa: US$ 1.7 mnNew Zealand: US$ 1.4 mnGermany: US$ 1.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 1.1 mnSingapore: US$ 1.1 mnThailand: US$ 1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 590kBangladesh: US$ 450kJapan: US$ 440kMalaysia: US$ 410kMozambique: US$ 270kTürkiye: US$ 250kIran: US$ 240kItaly: US$ 240kKuwait: US$ 240kUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 44.2 mnUnited Arab EmiratesUnited Kingdom: US$ 7.1 mnUnited KingdomUnited States of America: US$ 6.8 mnUnited States of AmericaCanada: US$ 3.4 mnBhutan: US$ 2.9 mnBhutanAustralia: US$ 2.6 mnAustraliaHong Kong: US$ 2.3 mnHong KongNepal: US$ 2 mnMaldives: US$ 1.8 mnSouth Africa: US$ 1.7 mnNew Zealand: US$ 1.4 mnGermany: US$ 1.2 mnNetherlands: US$ 1.1 mnSingapore: US$ 1.1 mnThailand: US$ 1 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 590kBangladesh: US$ 450kJapan: US$ 440kMalaysia: US$ 410kMozambique: US$ 270kTürkiye: US$ 250kIran: US$ 240kItaly: US$ 240kKuwait: US$ 240kIndia
Where Indian soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 23.1 mn232020-212021-22: US$ 45.7 mn462021-222022-23: US$ 48.7 mn492022-232023-24: US$ 60.9 mn612023-242024-25: US$ 98 mn982024-252025-26: US$ 86.7 mn872025-26
India’s soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2024-25, lowest in 2021-22 — a 610% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 1.44 per kg2021-22: US$ 0.35 per kg0.352022-23: US$ 1.82 per kg2024-25: US$ 2.50 per kg2.502025-26: US$ 2.05 per kg2.052020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 23.1 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 45.7 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 48.7 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 60.9 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 98 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 86.7 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 136 mn (US$ 103 mn – US$ 179 mn)1362026-272027-28: US$ 176 mn (US$ 130 mn – US$ 240 mn)1762027-28
India’s soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 176 mn

Likely range US$ 130 mn to US$ 240 mn.

Trend
+29.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.88
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United Arab EmiratesUS$ 44.2 mn-18.5%
2United KingdomUS$ 7.1 mn-2.1%
3United States of AmericaUS$ 6.8 mn+2.4%
4CanadaUS$ 3.4 mn+14.6%
5BhutanUS$ 2.9 mn0%
6AustraliaUS$ 2.6 mn+3.2%
7Hong KongUS$ 2.3 mn+105.5%
8NepalUS$ 2 mn+13.4%
9MaldivesUS$ 1.8 mn-26.2%
10South AfricaUS$ 1.7 mn+234.6%
11New ZealandUS$ 1.4 mn-19%
12GermanyUS$ 1.2 mn+1,362.5%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. GermanyUS$ 80k → US$ 1.2 mn+1,362.5%
  2. ThailandUS$ 100k → US$ 1 mn+940%
  3. South AfricaUS$ 520k → US$ 1.7 mn+234.6%
  4. Hong KongUS$ 1.1 mn → US$ 2.3 mn+105.5%
  5. NetherlandsUS$ 570k → US$ 1.1 mn+94.7%
  6. CanadaUS$ 3 mn → US$ 3.4 mn+14.6%
  7. NepalUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 2 mn+13.4%

Low demand

  1. MalaysiaUS$ 5.2 mn → US$ 410k-92.1%
  2. MaldivesUS$ 2.4 mn → US$ 1.8 mn-26.2%
  3. New ZealandUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 1.4 mn-19%
  4. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 54.2 mn → US$ 44.2 mn-18.5%
  5. SingaporeUS$ 1.3 mn → US$ 1.1 mn-13.5%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Non-alcoholic beverages, other than non-alcoholic beer in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or… — other2202 99 90US$ 39.8 mn-30.8%10.1 mn litresUS$ 3.96 per litrewas US$ 4.48
Waters, including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured — aerated waters2202 10 10US$ 25.1 mn+58.9%15.4 mn litresUS$ 1.63 per litrewas US$ 1.49
Fruit pulp or fruit juice based drink2202 99 20 · Non-alcoholic beverages, other than non-alcoholic beer in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or…US$ 8.1 mn+13%9.0 mn litresUS$ 0.89 per litrewas US$ 0.90
Non-alcoholic beverages, other than non-alcoholic beer in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or… — beverages containing milk2202 99 30US$ 7.2 mn-3%3.4 mn litresUS$ 2.13 per litrewas US$ 2.25
Other than lemonade/aerated waters2202 10 90 · Waters, including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavouredUS$ 4.9 mn-43.4%3.3 mn litresUS$ 1.47 per litrewas US$ 2.22
Non-alcoholic beverages, non-alcoholic beer — non alcoholic beer2202 91 00US$ 780k+90.2%772k litresUS$ 1.01 per litrewas US$ 1.61
Waters, including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other sweetening matter or flavoured — lemonade2202 10 20US$ 740k-22.9%219k litresUS$ 3.38 per litrewas US$ 3.29
Soya milk drinks, whether or not sweetened or flavoured2202 99 10 · Non-alcoholic beverages, other than non-alcoholic beer in item no. 2202.10, not including fruit, nut or…US$ 80k+100%50k litresUS$ 1.61 per litrewas US$ 2.84

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 28.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#53
of 158 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.2%
US$ 60.3 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 28.8 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1AustriaUS$ 2.91 bn 10.1%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 2.79 bn 9.7%
  3. 3NetherlandsUS$ 2.33 bn 8.1%
  4. 4SwitzerlandUS$ 1.6 bn 5.5%
  5. 5ThailandUS$ 1.57 bn 5.4%
  6. 6USAUS$ 1.52 bn 5.3%
  7. 7MexicoUS$ 1.12 bn 3.9%
  8. 8FranceUS$ 1.05 bn 3.6%
  9. 9PolandUS$ 945 mn 3.3%
  10. 10ItalyUS$ 876 mn 3%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 3.32 bn 11.8%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 2.12 bn 7.5%
  3. 3United KingdomUS$ 2.02 bn 7.2%
  4. 4FranceUS$ 1.25 bn 4.4%
  5. 5NetherlandsUS$ 1.16 bn 4.1%
  6. 6CanadaUS$ 1.09 bn 3.9%
  7. 7BelgiumUS$ 937 mn 3.3%
  8. 8ChinaUS$ 880 mn 3.1%
  9. 9Viet NamUS$ 533 mn 1.9%
  10. 10IrelandUS$ 493 mn 1.7%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 3.27 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 3.26 bn
GermanyUS$ 2.03 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 2.03 bn
United KingdomUS$ 2.02 bnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 2.02 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 1.22 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.22 bn
FranceUS$ 1.21 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.21 bn
CanadaUS$ 1.13 bnIndia 0.2% · gap US$ 1.13 bn
ChinaUS$ 999 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 999 mn
ItalyUS$ 486 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 486 mn
SpainUS$ 466 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 466 mn
AustraliaUS$ 440 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 439 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages

Soft drinks are mostly made close to where they are drunk, because shipping water is expensive; world trade is led by large brand owners. India’s exports are niche: mango and fruit drinks, Indian-flavoured sodas, lassi and traditional drinks for diaspora and Gulf shoppers. APEDA lists aerated waters among the main miscellaneous preparations exported, which went mainly to the USA, the UAE, Malaysia, the UK and Australia in 2025-26. The openings are distinctive Indian drinks that local makers abroad do not produce.

  1. 01Pick a distinctive drink

    Choose a drink local makers abroad do not make.

  2. 02Check sugar rules

    Check sugar taxes, sweetener rules and front-of-pack labels in the destination.

  3. 03Make the export label

    Design a label for the destination’s law — not the Indian label — and have the importer approve it before printing.

  4. 04Test and price freight

    Test micro and shelf life; calculate freight per case before quoting.

  5. 05Register abroad

    FDA registration for the USA; product registration in some Gulf states.

  6. 06Book, stuff and file

    Book the container, stuff it with a pre-shipment check, file the shipping bill on ICEGATE and get the certificate of origin and any health certificate.

  7. 07Get paid and close the file

    Send the original documents through your bank (or to the buyer if paid in advance). Once the money arrives, get the e-BRC and claim RoDTEP and drawback where they apply.

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages

Is a mango drink a juice?
No. Diluted fruit drinks are classified under 2202 and must not be labelled as juice.
Why are my margins so low?
Liquids are heavy and low in value; freight and sugar taxes can take most of the margin. Focus on distinctive products.
What RoDTEP applies?
All lines under 2202: 0.5% of FOB.
Can I use my Indian label abroad?
Rarely. Each market has its own label law — make a separate export label and get the importer to approve it.
Do I need an RCMC for my first small shipment?
Since 15 Sep 2026, a consignment up to ₹3 lakh FOB can go without an RCMC (DGFT Notification 36/2026-27). FSSAI and other legal licences still apply, and you need an RCMC to claim most export benefits.
Sources (5)
  1. APEDA — Miscellaneous Preparations (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)
  3. EU — Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 on food information to consumers
  4. US eCFR — 21 CFR Part 101, food labelling
  5. FSSAI — Notified food testing laboratories

Who buys Indian soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages

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