Banana Exporter from India
Cavendish (G9) bananas from India's growing belts, graded and reefer-shipped to your port.
Quick answer: Green Plus EXIM exports Cavendish G9 bananas from India, packed in 13–13.5kg ventilated cartons and shipped in reefer containers at 13–14°C. Bananas are India's largest fruit export by value, with Iraq, Iran, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Oman the leading destination markets. MOQ is one 20ft reefer container; FOB and CIF terms available.
Cavendish G9 bananas from India
Bananas are India's highest-value fresh fruit export, and the trade is dominated by one variety: Cavendish, usually the Grand Naine (G9) cultivar. For an importer, that's useful — it's the same commercial variety handled by ripening rooms worldwide, so Indian fruit slots into existing programmes without retraining staff or changing specifications.
We supply export-grade Cavendish from Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, packed in ventilated cartons and loaded into reefer containers at 13–14°C. Fruit is cut at 75–80% maturity so it arrives green and ripens under your control at destination.
What determines banana quality on arrival?
Three things, in order of how often they go wrong:
- Cold chain integrity. Bananas are chilling-sensitive. Hold them below roughly 12°C and the skin greys and dulls after ripening, even though the fruit looked perfect at loading. We set reefers to 13–14°C and can supply data-logger records on request.
- Maturity at cut. Cut too ripe and the fruit ripens in transit; cut too green and it ripens unevenly. For sea freight we target 75–80% maturity.
- Handling and packing. Bruising happens between the field and the carton, not usually at sea. Cartons are ventilated and packed to prevent movement in transit.
Which markets buy Indian bananas?
India's banana exports concentrate heavily in the Gulf and neighbouring West and Central Asian markets, where short transit times suit a perishable fruit. Iraq, Iran, the UAE, Uzbekistan and Oman are the leading destinations by value, and several of these grew sharply year-on-year in the most recent full year. The data table below shows the detail, with its source and year.
Banana export pricing
Banana prices move with harvest volumes, domestic demand in India, and reefer freight rates on your route — all three change month to month, so we don't publish a fixed price. Send your quantity, destination port and preferred Incoterm and we'll quote a current FOB or CIF price with a stated validity window.
Key facts
- Variety: Cavendish (Grand Naine / G9) — the standard global commercial variety
- HS code: 0803.90 (fresh bananas, excluding plantains)
- Packed in 13–13.5 kg ventilated cartons; ~19–20 MT per 20ft reefer
- Shipped at 13–14°C; 21–28 day shelf life from packing
- Leading markets from India: Iraq, Iran, UAE, Uzbekistan, Oman
- Available year-round from staggered Indian harvest regions
- MOQ: one 20ft reefer container
Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds
Banana specifications
| Parameter | Typical specification |
|---|---|
| Variety | Cavendish (Grand Naine / G9) |
| Grade | Export grade — uniform, unblemished, free from bruising |
| Finger length | 6–9 inches (buyer-specified) |
| Finger girth | 32–42 mm typical |
| Hands per box | 4–6, or clusters as specified |
| Maturity at loading | 75–80% (green, unripe) for sea freight |
| Colour | Uniform green at dispatch |
| Pesticide residue | Within destination-market limits; lab testing on request |
Typical specs — final specifications as per contract. Tell us your required grade when you request a quote and we'll confirm availability.
Packaging & container loading
| Detail | Options |
|---|---|
| Packaging | 13–13.5 kg ventilated corrugated cartons (buyer artwork possible); cluster-packed or hand-packed as specified |
| Minimum order quantity | 1 × 20ft container; trial orders discussed |
| Loading capacity (20ft) | Not typical — bananas move in 40ft reefers |
| Loading capacity (40ft) | Approx. 1,400–1,540 cartons of 13 kg (~19–20 MT) in a 40ft reefer |
| Shelf life & storage | 21–28 days from packing when held at 13–14°C with controlled humidity; do not drop below 12°C (chilling injury) |
Loading figures are typical estimates — use the banana container load estimator for a planning figure, and confirm exact figures with us before booking.
Availability calendar
Typical availability for banana from India, by month:
| J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | O | N | D |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● | ● |
Availability shifts year to year with weather and growing conditions — ask for current availability before planning a shipment window.
Where India exports banana (cavendish / g9)
India's top destination markets for banana (cavendish / g9) (HS 0803 90 (fresh bananas, excl. plantains)), 2024-25:
| Destination country | Export value (USD) |
|---|---|
| Iraq | $69,200,000 |
| Iran | $51,900,000 |
| United Arab Emirates | $47,900,000 |
| Uzbekistan | $23,200,000 |
| Oman | $19,300,000 |
Source: APEDA-linked trade compilation (citrusfreight.com / indiabusinesstrade.in), FY2024-25 — view source. Data year: 2024-25. Retrieved: 2026-09-17.
Notes on this data
Bananas are India's largest fruit export by value: FY2024-25 total ~USD 377.5 million, ~0.40-0.45 million MT. Iran + Iraq + UAE + Nepal together account for over 80% of India's banana exports (Nepal's individual value was not given in the source, so it is omitted from the table above rather than estimated). This is one of the better-sourced datasets gathered this session — good candidate for an early, confident blog post ('Bananas from India to GCC').
Indian sourcing regions
Maharashtra (Jalgaon, Solapur), Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Jalgaon in Maharashtra is India's best-known Cavendish belt and supplies much of our export volume, with year-round harvest windows staggered across regions so supply stays continuous.
Export documentation
Export documentation prepared to match destination-country and buyer requirements — phytosanitary certificate, certificate of origin, fumigation certificate, lab test reports and more, as applicable.
- Phytosanitary certificate
- Certificate of origin
- Commercial invoice, packing list and bill of lading
- Pesticide residue / lab test report (on request or where the destination market requires it)
- Reefer temperature log / data logger (on request)
Share your compliance checklist and we will confirm the documentation for your shipment. Third-party inspection (SGS, Bureau Veritas, Intertek or your nominated agency) can be arranged on request.
Get a quote for Banana
Tell us your specs — get a quote within 24 business hours.
Banana export FAQs
Almost all of India's export volume is Cavendish, usually the Grand Naine (G9) cultivar — the same commercial variety supplied by most global origins, so it drops into existing supply chains without a specification change.
13–14°C in a reefer container. Below about 12°C bananas suffer chilling injury, which shows up as dull, grey-brown skin after ripening — so the cold chain matters more than the transit time.
Roughly 1,400–1,540 cartons of 13 kg (about 19–20 MT) in a 40ft reefer, which is how bananas normally ship; the exact count depends on carton size and pallet configuration.
One 20ft reefer container. Because bananas are perishable and need an unbroken cold chain, we don't split reefer loads across buyers.
Typically 5–12 days from Indian west-coast ports to GCC ports, which comfortably fits within the 21–28 day shelf life when the cold chain holds. Ask us for a current transit estimate to your specific port.
Yes. India harvests bananas across staggered regional windows, so supply is continuous through the year, though pricing and grade availability move with the season.
We describe products by type and can discuss what's available from our sourcing network. Tell us what your market requires and we'll confirm honestly what we can and can't supply.
Related products
Request a quote for Banana
Tell us your quantity, destination port and required specification — we'll come back within 24 business hours.
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Step 1 of 2 — takes 60 seconds