India, while gaining international attention for its rapidly expanding processed potato sector, maintains a significant, albeit challenging, market for fresh or ware potato exports (Harmonised System code 070190). Globally, fresh potato trade is robust, having reached a record volume of over 15 million tonnes in the 12 months ending June 2025, marking an 8.2% increase over the previous year and demonstrating stronger growth than the world market for frozen fry exports.

Annual Trends and Financial Performance

India’s own fresh potatoes export volume experienced a slight contraction in recent reporting periods. For the 12 months ending June 2025, India exported 494,325 tonnes of fresh potatoes, a 4.9% decline from the year prior. Similarly, the annual volume for the 12 months ending July 2025 stood at 496,959 tonnes, a 2.6% decrease year-on-year.

However, the value of this trade showed positive growth due to increasing prices. In the year ending June 2025, the total value of ware exports rose by 8.2% to ₹9.8 billion ( ₹980 Crores). This increase was driven by a substantial 13.8% rise in the average price for the same period, reaching ₹19,833/tonne. This upward price trend continued through the period ending July 2025, where the average price was ₹19,791/tonne (a 13.2% annual increase), contributing to total earnings of ₹9.835 billion ( ₹983 Crores )- a 10.3% rise.

Key Export Destinations

Fresh or Ware potato exports are concentrated primarily within Asia and the Middle East, with activity fluctuating on a monthly basis.

1. Nepal: This market remains India’s largest customer for fresh potatoes. In the year ending July 2025, exports to Nepal accounted for 228,380 tonnes, reflecting a modest 0.4% annual increase. Nepal’s demand provided essential support for Indian ware exports in July 2025, taking 15,026 tonnes, or 42% of the month’s total exports. However, the pricing dynamic in Nepal showed significant weakness, with the average annual price dropping sharply by 46.8% to ₹6,070/tonne (year ending July 2025).
2. Middle East: This region serves as a major consumer, collectively accounting for approximately one-fifth of India’s fresh potato exports. Annual sales to countries including Kuwait, the UAE, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar increased by 14.2% to 105,270 tonnes (year ending July 2025). In July 2025, Oman was the largest Middle Eastern customer, importing 5,826 tonnes. Saudi Arabia also exhibited strong annual growth in this sector, with sales volume increasing by 70.7% to 14,331 tonnes in the year ending July 2025.
3. Other Markets: Indonesia, Malaysia, and Oman were instrumental in driving a strong export performance in June 2025, with their combined imports increasing by 88% over June 2024 figures. Other significant annual volumes include Bangladesh (62,936 tonnes) and Indonesia (43,537 tonnes), though Bangladesh saw a sharp 28.7% annual decline in volume (year ending July 2025).

Despite the growth in value and the crucial role of ware exports in India’s agricultural trade, the earnings from this sector are now considerably overshadowed by the country’s booming processed potato industry. The annual earnings from fresh potato exports (₹983 Crore) were ₹10.7 billion (₹1070 Crores) less than the earnings generated by processed potato exports (frozen fries) for the 12 months ending July 2025.