EU's apples to get cheaper in India, minimum import price to protect domestic growers

Apples from the European Union are set to get cheaper in India once the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between both the economies comes into force.

EU will be able to export maximum of 50,000 tons (goes to 1,00,000 over 10 years) at 20% duty and a Minimum Import Price (MIP) of ₹80 per kg. ​This means EU apples will continue to face a minimum effective landed cost of around ₹96 per kg.

Commerce Ministry sources said that the move will preserve domestic price stability, safeguard farmer incomes, and support the strong market position of locally produced apples.

The preferential access through quota of around 50,000 tons has been offered in line with EU's current imports to India, with sources indicating that imports are expected to be largely on the cost of existing imports and may replace some current sources without significantly increasing overall apple imports.

​India's apple imports were about 5 lakh metric tons in 2024, with supplies concentrated among a few major partners. Iran (1,33,447 tons; 25.7%), Türkiye (1,16,680 tons; 22.5%), and Afghanistan (42,716 tons; 8.2%) led imports, with EU's suppliers contributing 56,717 tons (11.3%).

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Meanwhile, Indian apples will get zero duty over a period of 5 to 7 years in the EU market, opening a premium segment for domestic apple producers. Commerce Ministry sources termed concessions on apples as a measured, reciprocal, and balanced trade outcome to safeguard livelihoods, preserve price stability and enable new opportunities for the country's apple growers.

Responding to calls for an increase in import barriers for apples to protect domestic growers, India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in July 2025 had said that apples anyway get imported at ₹75-80 per kg due to a Minimum Import Price of ₹50, apart from 50% import duty and some cesses, followed by clearance, marketing, branding, transport, and distribution raising the retail price to ₹125-150 per kg.

Stating that the government already provides significant protection to apple growers, he said that the government will need to balance their concerns with demands of 140 crore consumers as making apples very expensive will lead to a fall in demand.

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He pointed out that India's total apple production falls short of domestic demand as the country needs to import 4.5 to 5 lakh tons of the fruit. He had added that the government is also working on cold chains to prolong the shelf-life of agricultural products to promote exports.