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India expands fruit exports with fragrant Litchis to Qatar and UAE

Samira Vishwas | June 28, 2025 8:24 PM CST

New Delhi: Do you know that not only the king of fruits, ‘Mangoes’, are being exported outside India, but you will be shocked to know that there are other fruits too in the line, Litchis from the Punjab region of India are also being exported to Middle Eastern countries. The Indian horticultural market is seeing a boom in exports, as the first consignment of Litchis from Punjab made its way to the markets of the Middle East.

As per the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), 1.5 tonnes of rose-scented litchis have been shipped to Doha and Dubai this month. The export aims to promote India’s fresh produce all over the world. It was a joint facilitation by APEDA, Punjab’s Department of Horticulture, and the Lulu Group.

On June 23, 2025, a fresh batch of one tonne of Litchis from Pathankot was taken off to Doha, with half a tonne shipped to Dubai for export.

India’s Litchi to the world export

According to APEDA, this is a major step for Punjab’s horticulture industry and reflects the growing demand for regional fruits in global markets. The move also aligns with the government’s goal to expand agricultural exports and enhance farmers’ income. India has been a large supplier of exotic varieties of Mango to many parts of the world, consignments of which have been growing here in various cities and states across the country.

In 2023–24, Punjab contributed 71,490 tonnes of litchi, making up more than 12 per cent of India’s total production. During the same period, the country exported 639.53 tonnes of litchis. While India’s fruit exports are still led by mangoes, bananas, grapes, and oranges, APEDA highlighted a rising global demand for native varieties. “Fruits like cherries, jamun, and litchis are now gaining ground in international markets as part of India’s expanding range of indigenous exports,” the authority said.