Chandigarh: Wholesale sale price of Indian apple is subdued by imported varieties that are selling at 15-20 per cent cheaper compared to the domestic produce. A higher stock of foreign apples and rains affected supply to Southern states has mellowed wholesale price of apple to Rs 110-120 per kilogram from 130-140 kilogram a fortnight ago.
Chandigarh: Wholesale sale price of Indian apple is subdued by imported varieties that are selling at 15-20 per cent cheaper compared to the domestic produce. A higher stock of foreign apples and rains affected supply to Southern states has mellowed wholesale price of apple to Rs 110-120 per kilogram from 130-140 kilogram a fortnight ago.
“Despite selling at premium over imported versions, the prices are less than the last year,” Basant Nayak, business head, Adani Agrifresh Limited told ET.
“This year the traders had stocked larger volumes of imported apple in anticipation of price rise but it has not happened so far,” he said. He said that Adani Agrifresh will procure around 24000 tonnes of apples fit for cold-storage that are to be supplied to various retail chains.
But despite a 75 per cent import duty on imported apples the prices have not increased and importer are incurring losses in the trade. The duty was increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent earlier this year to ensure higher remuneration to local growers. “The price of imported apple has not picked as was expected by importers,” Nayak said.
“Demand for local apples is on the rise,” Mehta Ram Kriplani, president Azadpur Chamber of Fruits and Vegetables Association said. “Local apples are fresh and moreover people are now averse to waxed-fruits,” he said.
“A low output in Himachal Pradesh has restricted supply to 100 trucks per day from 250 trucks in a good crop year,”Kriplani said.
Also the wholesale price of apple has also come down as supply is interrupted due to rains to states of Tamil Naidu, Karnataka and Kerala. Traders are also anxious that delay in delivery to Nepal and Bangladesh would check demand red gold and golden variety of apple. “The supply is getting delayed due to beefed up security on the border for the Independence Day,” a commission agent based in Shimla said.
Traders are worried that China would increase supply of apples to Nepal and Bangladesh as supply from India is getting delayed.
“Despite selling at premium over imported versions, the prices are less than the last year,” Basant Nayak, business head, Adani Agrifresh Limited told ET.
“This year the traders had stocked larger volumes of imported apple in anticipation of price rise but it has not happened so far,” he said. He said that Adani Agrifresh will procure around 24000 tonnes of apples fit for cold-storage that are to be supplied to various retail chains.
But despite a 75 per cent import duty on imported apples the prices have not increased and importer are incurring losses in the trade. The duty was increased from 50 per cent to 75 per cent earlier this year to ensure higher remuneration to local growers. “The price of imported apple has not picked as was expected by importers,” Nayak said.
“Demand for local apples is on the rise,” Mehta Ram Kriplani, president Azadpur Chamber of Fruits and Vegetables Association said. “Local apples are fresh and moreover people are now averse to waxed-fruits,” he said.
“A low output in Himachal Pradesh has restricted supply to 100 trucks per day from 250 trucks in a good crop year,”Kriplani said.
Also the wholesale price of apple has also come down as supply is interrupted due to rains to states of Tamil Naidu, Karnataka and Kerala. Traders are also anxious that delay in delivery to Nepal and Bangladesh would check demand red gold and golden variety of apple. “The supply is getting delayed due to beefed up security on the border for the Independence Day,” a commission agent based in Shimla said.
Traders are worried that China would increase supply of apples to Nepal and Bangladesh as supply from India is getting delayed.