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Export citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes)

Mandarins, Kinnow, oranges and limes to neighbours and the Gulf. Phytosanitary certificate and cold-chain discipline decide success.

Free to exportHS 0805
HS code
0805
Citrus fruit, fresh or dried: oranges (0805 10), mandarins (0805 21–29), grapefruit (0805 40), lemons and limes (0805 50).
Export policy
Free to export
Free under ITC(HS) Schedule 2. Each consignment needs a phytosanitary certificate; confirm the current line on DGFT before you contract.
Registrations
4
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 28.1 mn
to 22 countries

What is exported

India grows Nagpur and Coorg mandarins, Punjab’s Kinnow, sweet oranges (mosambi) and acid limes. Most exports are fresh fruit sent by road to Bangladesh and Nepal or by sea to the Gulf. APEDA groups citrus with “other fresh fruits”, whose main destinations in 2025-26 were Iraq, the UAE, Uzbekistan, Iran, Nepal and Bangladesh.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Nagpur mandarinLoose-skinned mandarin from Vidarbha (GI-tagged).
  • KinnowMandarin hybrid from Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana; the main citrus exported to Bangladesh.
  • Sweet orange (mosambi) and Jalna sweet orangeSold mainly to neighbours and Gulf wholesalers.
  • Acid lime and lemonKagzi lime from Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu for Gulf food service.

Where it is grown or made

  • MaharashtraNagpur, Amravati and Wardha — mandarin; Jalna and Aurangabad — sweet orange; Akola — Kagzi lime.
  • Punjab and RajasthanFazilka, Abohar, Hoshiarpur and Sri Ganganagar — Kinnow.
  • Andhra Pradesh and TelanganaNellore and Nalgonda — acid lime and sweet orange.
  • North-East and KarnatakaKhasi mandarin (Meghalaya), Darjeeling mandarin, Coorg orange (Kodagu).

Season

Kinnow: December to March. Nagpur mandarin: two crops — ambia (October–December) and mrig (February–April). Limes are available most of the year.

Export packing

  • Ventilated corrugated cartons or plastic crates by count and size; waxed and graded at the packhouse where the buyer allows.
  • Pre-cooled and shipped in reefers; trucks to Bangladesh and Nepal.

Who buys abroad

  • Fruit wholesalers in Bangladesh and Nepal
  • Importers supplying Gulf wholesale markets and supermarkets
  • Food-service buyers of limes in the Gulf

The quality buyers ask for

Codex standards
Oranges CXS 245-2004; mandarins CXS 214-1999; limes CXS 213-1999 — minimum quality, sizing and tolerances
Maturity
Minimum juice content and sugar–acid ratio set by the standard and the buyer
Size and count
Packed by size code or count per carton, uniform within a carton
Residues
Pesticide and post-harvest fungicide residues within the importer’s MRLs

Certificates

  • 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.
  • Phytosanitary certificateRequiredIssued by Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) for each consignment after inspection. Apply on PQMS.
  • GLOBALG.A.P.Often askedFarm-level good agricultural practice certification asked for by most European supermarkets for fresh produce.
  • Organic (NPOP / NOP / EU)Often askedOnly if you sell the product as organic: NPOP certification plus the buyer market’s own organic rules.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Ventilated cartons on pallets in 40-ft reefers; trucks to Bangladesh and Nepal.

How it travels

Road to neighbours; sea reefer to the Gulf; air only for small premium lots.

Storage

Pre-cooled and held cool and humid; mandarins are typically held at about 4–8 °C (your packhouse confirms).

Shelf life

Typically a few weeks under good cold storage; less for limes, which yellow quickly.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Fresh-fruit cartons: produce name and variety, class and size or count, net weight, packer’s name and address or code, “Product of India”, and the packhouse or lot code (EU marketing standards apply for the EU).
  • 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

For pesticide residues, use a lab on APEDA’s recognised list (apeda.gov.in → Recognised Organisations) or an NABL-accredited residue lab (nabl-india.org). Plant Quarantine inspects the consignment for the phytosanitary certificate.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • APEDARegistration-cum-Membership Certificate (RCMC) for APEDA-scheduled products. Apply on the DGFT portal after you have your IEC.dgft.gov.in ↗
  • Plant Quarantine (DPPQS)Phytosanitary certificate for each consignment of fresh or dried plant produce, applied for on PQMS. Some markets also need the farm or packhouse to be registered.pqms.cgg.gov.in ↗

Quality and checks

  • Pesticide residues within the importing country’s limits (see APEDA’s MRL database).
  • Fruit free of pests and diseases the importer lists (fruit flies, citrus canker and others); some markets ask for treatment or orchard registration.
  • Even size, colour and firmness by grade; wax and post-harvest fungicides only if permitted in the destination.
How to start small

Start with Kinnow or Nagpur mandarin to Bangladesh, Nepal or a Gulf importer in the peak season. Buy graded fruit from an APEDA-recognised packhouse, send a trial reefer or truck load, and agree advance payment for the first lots. 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

  • Packing fruit warm from the field — without pre-cooling, rot sets in during transit.
  • Land-border duties and documentation for Bangladesh change often; confirm with your buyer and customs before each season.
  • Using a post-harvest chemical that is not approved in the importing country.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (6)
  1. APEDA — Other Fresh Fruits (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. APEDA — Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
  3. APEDA — International Pesticide MRL Database
  4. APEDA — Recognised packhouses
  5. Plant Quarantine (DPPQS) — PQMS portal for phytosanitary certificates
  6. DGFT Notification 36/2026-27 (15 Sep 2026) — no RCMC needed for consignments up to ₹3 lakh FOB

Trade data

Indian citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes) exports in numbers

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

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 28.1 mn
-18.9% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +9.4%
US$ 25.7 mn → US$ 28.1 mn
Buyer countries
22
Average export price
US$ 0.35
per kg · 80,399 tonnes shipped · US$ 0.37 the year before
Bangladesh: US$ 14.4 mnNepal: US$ 9.9 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.3 mnBhutan: US$ 950kQatar: US$ 290kKuwait: US$ 250kSingapore: US$ 150kOman: US$ 140kSaudi Arabia: US$ 140kUnited States of America: US$ 100kMaldives: US$ 90kUnited Kingdom: US$ 90kIran: US$ 80kBahrain: US$ 50kMalaysia: US$ 50kGermany: US$ 40kCanada: US$ 20kFrance: US$ 20kAustralia: US$ 10kIreland: US$ 10kThailand: US$ 10kUzbekistan: US$ 10kBangladesh: US$ 14.4 mnBangladeshNepal: US$ 9.9 mnNepalUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 1.3 mnUnited Arab EmiratesBhutan: US$ 950kQatar: US$ 290kKuwait: US$ 250kSingapore: US$ 150kSingaporeOman: US$ 140kSaudi Arabia: US$ 140kUnited States of America: US$ 100kUnited States of AmericaMaldives: US$ 90kMaldivesUnited Kingdom: US$ 90kIran: US$ 80kBahrain: US$ 50kMalaysia: US$ 50kGermany: US$ 40kCanada: US$ 20kFrance: US$ 20kAustralia: US$ 10kIreland: US$ 10kThailand: US$ 10kUzbekistan: US$ 10kIndia
Where Indian citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes) goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 79.8 mn802020-212021-22: US$ 67.8 mn682021-222022-23: US$ 27.7 mn282022-232023-24: US$ 27 mn272023-242024-25: US$ 25.7 mn262024-252025-26: US$ 28.1 mn282025-26
India’s citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes) exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2021-22, lowest in 2022-23 — a 43% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.39 per kg2021-22: US$ 0.45 per kg0.452022-23: US$ 0.32 per kg0.322024-25: US$ 0.37 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.35 per kg0.352020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes) · 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$ 79.8 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 67.8 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 27.7 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 27 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 25.7 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 28.1 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 16.7 mn (US$ 10.8 mn – US$ 25.7 mn)172026-272027-28: US$ 13.2 mn (US$ 8.2 mn – US$ 21.4 mn)132027-28
India’s citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes) exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 13.2 mn

Likely range US$ 8.2 mn to US$ 21.4 mn.

Trend
-20.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.71
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
1BangladeshUS$ 14.4 mn-0.8%
2NepalUS$ 9.9 mn+18.4%
3United Arab EmiratesUS$ 1.3 mn+43.8%
4BhutanUS$ 950k+2.2%
5QatarUS$ 290k+81.2%
6KuwaitUS$ 250k+19%
7SingaporeUS$ 150k+66.7%
8OmanUS$ 140k+75%
9Saudi ArabiaUS$ 140k+75%
10United States of AmericaUS$ 100k+900%
11MaldivesUS$ 90k+28.6%
12United KingdomUS$ 90k+50%

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. United Arab EmiratesUS$ 890k → US$ 1.3 mn+43.8%
  2. NepalUS$ 8.4 mn → US$ 9.9 mn+18.4%

Low demand

No sizeable country falls in this list this year.

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
Fruit, edible, oranges, fresh or dried — oranges fresh or dried0805 10 00US$ 11.4 mn-36.1%33,094 tonnesUS$ 0.34 per kgwas US$ 0.35
Other citrus fruits fresh or dried0805 90 00 · Fruit, edible, citrus fruit in heading no. 0805, fresh or driedUS$ 9.7 mn+185.3%32,897 tonnesUS$ 0.29 per kgwas US$ 0.35
Lemons(citrus limon citrus limonum) and limes(citrus aurantifolia) frsh or dried0805 50 00 · Fruit, edible, lemons, limes, fresh or driedUS$ 5.6 mn+46.1%11,969 tonnesUS$ 0.47 per kgwas US$ 0.46
Other wilkings and similar citrus hybrids0805 29 00 · Fruit, edible, tangelos, wilkings and similar citrus hybrid, fresh or driedUS$ 850k+60.4%1,262 tonnesUS$ 0.67 per kgwas US$ 0.77
Mandarins (includinguding tangerines and satsumas)0805 21 00 · Fruit, edible, mandarins, fresh or driedUS$ 550k+1,000%1,155 tonnesUS$ 0.48 per kgwas US$ 0.92
Fruit, edible, grapefruit and pomelos, fresh or dried — grapefruit and pomelos0805 40 00US$ 10k0%22 tonnesUS$ 0.46 per kgwas US$ 0.84

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$ 16.2 bn
2023
India among exporters
#35
of 134 countries
India’s share of world exports
0.2%
US$ 25.4 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 16.4 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1SpainUS$ 3.82 bn 23.2%
  2. 2South AfricaUS$ 1.86 bn 11.3%
  3. 3ChinaUS$ 1.25 bn 7.6%
  4. 4TürkiyeUS$ 1.12 bn 6.8%
  5. 5EgyptUS$ 1.01 bn 6.1%
  6. 6NetherlandsUS$ 965 mn 5.9%
  7. 7MexicoUS$ 881 mn 5.3%
  8. 8USAUS$ 862 mn 5.2%
  9. 9ChileUS$ 477 mn 2.9%
  10. 10MoroccoUS$ 456 mn 2.8%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 2.12 bn 13.1%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 1.58 bn 9.7%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 1.35 bn 8.3%
  4. 4NetherlandsUS$ 1.2 bn 7.4%
  5. 5United KingdomUS$ 800 mn 4.9%
  6. 6CanadaUS$ 719 mn 4.4%
  7. 7PolandUS$ 563 mn 3.5%
  8. 8ChinaUS$ 446 mn 2.7%
  9. 9ItalyUS$ 418 mn 2.6%
  10. 10Saudi ArabiaUS$ 357 mn 2.2%

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$ 2.31 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 2.31 bn
GermanyUS$ 1.58 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.58 bn
FranceUS$ 1.3 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.3 bn
NetherlandsUS$ 1.02 bnIndia 0% · gap US$ 1.02 bn
United KingdomUS$ 800 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 800 mn
CanadaUS$ 733 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 733 mn
Saudi ArabiaUS$ 383 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 383 mn
ChinaUS$ 368 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 368 mn
United Arab EmiratesUS$ 356 mnIndia 0.4% · gap US$ 354 mn
ItalyUS$ 343 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 343 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 citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes)

India is a large citrus grower but a modest exporter; most fruit is eaten at home. Spain, South Africa, Egypt, Turkey and China dominate world citrus trade, and their fruit sets the quality bar in the Gulf and Europe. India’s natural markets are its neighbours — Bangladesh and Nepal buy Kinnow and mandarins by road — and Gulf wholesale markets that want value fruit. The openings are better-graded Kinnow and Nagpur mandarin from APEDA-recognised packhouses, and limes for Gulf food service.

  1. 01Choose variety and market

    Match the fruit to the market: Kinnow to Bangladesh, mandarins and limes to the Gulf.

  2. 02Check market rules

    Check MRLs, pest rules and duties for the destination on APEDA and with your buyer.

  3. 03Source from growers

    Buy from orchards with spray records, ideally through an FPO.

  4. 04Grade and pack

    Wash, grade, wax if allowed, and pack in an APEDA-recognised packhouse; pre-cool.

  5. 05Phytosanitary inspection

    Apply on PQMS and get the consignment inspected and certified.

  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 citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes)

Which citrus is easiest to export?
Kinnow to Bangladesh and Nepal, by road in season, is the most established trade.
Can I use “Nagpur Orange” on my cartons?
Only for fruit from the registered GI area; register as an authorised user to use it safely.
Why did my fruit rot on the way?
Usually no pre-cooling, rough handling or broken cold chain. Pre-cool within hours of harvest.
Is RoDTEP available on citrus?
Yes — 2.4% of FOB, capped at ₹0.70 per kg, under Appendix 4R, continued to 31 Dec 2026.
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 (6)
  1. APEDA — Other Fresh Fruits (exports and destinations, 2025-26)
  2. Codex Alimentarius — list of standards
  3. APEDA — International Pesticide MRL Database
  4. APEDA — Recognised packhouses
  5. IP India — State-wise registered Geographical Indications (as on 31 Dec 2025)
  6. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10 Oct 2024 (Notification No. 32, 30 Sep 2024)

Who buys Indian citrus fruit (oranges, lemons, limes)

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