Dragon fruit is becoming a more prominent product among the consumers in India, says Shubha Rawal, head of sourcing of IG International: "The demand for dragon fruit in India has grown significantly over the past few years. What started as a niche, exotic offering is now a widely recognized superfruit, particularly in urban markets. Consumers are increasingly drawn to its health benefits, as well as its appearance and taste. This growth is not only visible in modern retail and online platforms but also in the hospitality and foodservice industries. Additionally, we're seeing early signs of interest picking up in tier-2 cities, indicating long-term market potential."
At the moment, IG International exclusively imports the dragon fruits from a single origin, as they've had great results with the Vietnamese dragon fruit, Rawal explains. "Currently, we import dragon fruit exclusively from Vietnam. Vietnamese dragon fruit, particularly the red-flesh variety, is popular due to its eye-catching color, consistent quality, and familiarity among Indian consumers. Vietnam has a strong production base with well-established harvesting and export processes, making it a reliable partner for our import needs. Pricing is quite dynamic and heavily influenced by seasonality in Vietnam. We see consistent fluctuations throughout the year, with prices swinging between high and low depending on crop availability and local demand."
A specific variant of the dragon fruit is still having some challenges in terms of shelf life, which is something the importer hopes to enhance with better post-harvest management: "Logistics have stabilized to a large extent. We now receive two to three vessels per week into India, which allows for a predictable supply flow. However, the real challenge lies in the shelf life of red-flesh dragon fruit; This fruit tends to struggle, even with relatively short transit times. This makes post-harvest handling a critical area for improvement. With better post-harvest management and handling at origin, we believe the fruit's shelf life and overall arrival quality can be significantly enhanced," Rawal states.
Overall, Rawal is looking forward to playing a role in the further growth of the dragon fruit among consumers in India. "We're optimistic about expanding the market for both red and yellow-flesh dragon fruit in the near future. These varieties not only taste great, but also offer visual and nutritional appeal, which makes them ideal for product differentiation. Our goal is to introduce these options more widely to Indian consumers and position them as premium yet accessible fruits. As awareness and acceptance continue to grow, we believe there is strong potential for both volume growth and diversification within this category."
"We are also keen to explore any new variants that may emerge in the future, whether in terms of flesh color, taste profile, or improved shelf life. As the category evolves globally, we want to be at the forefront of bringing these innovations to the Indian market," Rawal concludes.
For more information:
Shubha Rawal
IG International PVT LTD
Tel: +91 9899487775
Email: [email protected]
www.iginternational.net