Indian banana exporters are entering the second half of 2026 facing two contrasting realities. While export opportunities are emerging beyond the country’s traditional Gulf markets, adverse weather in key production regions has significantly reduced the availability of export-grade fruit, making exporters far more selective in their sourcing.
According to Pratiksha Patil, General Manager, Business Operations at Bandhan Agritech Pvt. Ltd., the sector has faced a far more challenging first half than the same period last year.
“Export competitiveness has weakened, shipment volumes have declined, and exporter margins have come under pressure,” she says. “Rising freight costs, vessel delays, container shortages and supply chain disruptions have all played a role. At the same time, rainfall across major banana-producing regions such as Jalgaon and Tembhurni has reduced the availability of export-quality fruit, pushing procurement costs significantly higher.”
© Bandhan Agritech Pvt. Ltd.
Although the Middle East continues to anchor India’s banana exports, buyers across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq and Iran are taking a more cautious approach to procurement than in previous seasons.
“Compared with the immediate post-conflict period, logistics have improved, and buyer enquiries have gradually increased. However, buyers are still placing greater emphasis on consistent arrivals, quality and pricing before committing to larger volumes.”
Pratiksha says that exporters are looking beyond the Gulf for future growth, with emerging markets such as Syria and Turkey creating fresh opportunities for Indian bananas, while Russia and parts of Europe are also attracting renewed attention following India’s successful APEDA trial shipment.
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“The 22-ton shipment to the Port of Novorossiysk demonstrated that Indian bananas can successfully withstand longer transit periods while maintaining quality. With efficient cold-chain logistics and temperature-controlled transport, Indian bananas are well positioned to meet the expectations of these long-distance markets.”
The search for new markets comes at a time when sourcing export-grade bananas has become considerably more difficult. Heavy rainfall and storms across Maharashtra have affected fruit quality in several important production belts, reducing supplies and pushing procurement costs sharply higher.
© Bandhan Agritech Pvt. Ltd.
“Before the weather disruptions, export-grade bananas were typically procured at ₹15 to 25 per kg. Following the crop damage, procurement prices in the affected regions increased to over ₹35 per kg because of the limited availability of export-quality fruit,” Pratiksha shares.
To maintain supply, Bandhan Agritech sources bananas from multiple production regions, including Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. While overall banana availability remains sufficient, Pratiksha says the priority is quality over shipment volumes. “We’re focusing only on fruit that meets our strict export standards. This has resulted in relatively lower shipment volumes.”
© Bandhan Agritech Pvt. Ltd.
As part of strengthening long-term export consistency, the company has established a Centre of Excellence where growers receive practical training in crop management, irrigation, disease control and post-harvest handling under commercial field conditions.
Looking ahead, Pratiksha believes India’s long-term prospects will remain strong despite the current supply challenges. “The opportunities are certainly there, but long-term growth will depend on consistently delivering the quality international buyers expect. Supporting farmers, improving production practices and expanding into newer markets will all play an important role.”
For more information:
Pratiksha Patil
Bandhan Agritech Pvt. Ltd.
Tel: +91 8237074111
Tel: +61 497955121
Email: [email protected]
www.bandhanagri.com