Moldovan apples make first official debut on India's market

Moldovan apples have made their official debuted on the Indian market, marking an important moment for the fruits industry of Moldova. The first commercial shipment was possible today, following significant efforts to open the market and the collaboration between authorities, international partners and the Moldova Fruct Association.

"This is a significant step for our agricultural sector and for trade. Exporting Moldovan apples to the Indian market represents an important achievement and shows the strong bilateral relations between the two countries. We are deeply grateful to the Indian authorities for the support and cooperation in achieving this endeavor. I look forward to Moldovan apples reaching the tables of Indian consumers," Ambassador of Moldova in India Ana Taban said.

Before reaching the tables of consumers in India, Moldovan Red Chief apples (caliber 65+) undergo a rigorous process: washing, packaging into 13-14 kg boxes, labeling and palletizing according to import requirements. The journey starts in Bilicenii Vechi, and in 3-4 days, the apples reach Istanbul. From there, they are loaded onto a ship bound for Mumbai, India.

"Not long ago, it seemed impossible to reach so far with our apples, but now we have the first producer and the first commercial consignment of apples ready for the journey. It was certainly not easy, but we succeeded alongside the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Moldovan Embassy in India, National Food Safety Agency (ANSA), the Moldova Fruct Association and our producers — everyone contributed to this success. This is a signal to all our farmers: 'Come on, Moldova can do it!.' India is a new market, but a huge opportunity for the horticultural sector. The more export destinations we have, the less vulnerable we are to crises. New markets mean new customers, new contracts, and, implicitly, higher revenues for producers," noted State Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Industry Vasile Sarban.

At the same time, Iurie Fala, Executive Director at Moldova Fruct, said that India's market, with over one billion consumers, provided a significant opportunity for Moldovan apple producers due to high demand for quality fruits.

"Expanding exports to India diversifies target markets and contributes to the stability of the horticultural sector. An important advantage for Moldovan apple producers is the ability to deliver them immediately after harvest. In the long term, maintaining a consistent level of quality and increasing the volumes exported will be essential for consolidating Moldova's position on the Indian market," Iurie Fala said.

During the 2023-2024, Fruct Grup SRL delivered around 260 tons of apples in the trial lot to the Indian market.

"Before heading to India, Moldovan Red Chief apples, caliber 65+, are washed and stored in 13-14 kg boxes. The boxes are labeled according to the import country's requirements with the product's reference data and are palletized, then loaded into a truck. The truck from Bilicenii Vechi will reach Istanbul, Turkey, in 3-4 days, from where the apples will be loaded onto a ship bound for the port of Mumbai, India. The route will be completed in a maximum of 30-60 days, during which the apples will be kept at a temperature of 1 Celsius degree," said Iurie Dogotari, director of Fruct Grup Ltd Company.

India is a promising market both for the present and for the future.

"Although it is one of the largest producing countries in the world, India is also one of the biggest consumers of apples. One of Moldova's strengths, compared to other European countries, is the advanced quality of its apples, which favors its success in the Indian market. My advice to Moldovan producers is not to compromise on quality. Discussions can always be held on the price, volumes, or varieties, but quality stays indisputable. The Indian market seeks continuous, stable and high-quality deliveries on long term and the basic requirements are high firmness and proper harvesting, in order to ensure the perfect combination of firmness and brix," emphasized Nicola Zanotelli, an expert in imports of fruits to India.

In the 2023-2024 season, India imported over 460,000 tons of apples from Turkey, Iran, Poland, Italy, Afghanistan, South Africa and other countries.

As a result of the concerted efforts of Moldova’s government, ANSA, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Moldovan Embassy in India, development partners, and the Moldova Fruct Association, Moldova was officially approved for export of apples to India on February 21, 2025. The decision was preceded by test shipments, conducted under ANSA’s supervision, during which 340 tons of apples have been exported since 2023 till present, showing the compliance of Moldovan products with Indian phytosanitary regulations.