India: Fresh Potato Exports Earned ₹18.86 per kg in 2025, Among the Lowest of Major Exporters
Key takeaways
- 417,000 t of fresh potatoes exported by India in 2025
- 18.86 rupees per kg average FOB price of Indian exports
- 55% of Indian potato exports went to Nepal at ₹11.92 per kg
- 64.08 rupees per kg earned by Canada, the top exporter
Why it matters
- For farmers
- If you target export buyers, choose varieties and sizes they specify and agree grading before harvest.
- For traders
- Look beyond Nepal: buyers outside Nepal paid ₹27.35/kg on average; build graded, specification-based offers for distant markets.
- For investors
- Export-grade grading, packing and cold-chain capacity could lift India above its ₹18.86/kg average.
60-second summary
Indian potatoes leave the country cheaply, and most of them only travel next door. A review of UN Comtrade figures by IndianPotato shows 417,000 tonnes shipped in 2025 for ₹786 crore, which works out at ₹18.86 per kilogram free on board. Among 11 large exporters, only Pakistan sold for less, while Canada earned ₹64.08 and the Netherlands ₹46.30. Nepal is the main reason: it took 229,000 tonnes, or 55 percent of the total, at ₹11.92 per kilogram, while all other buyers paid ₹27.35 on average. Volumes also dropped from 517,000 tonnes in 2023. For exporters, the lesson is that value lies in more distant markets that demand grading, specific varieties and cold-chain handling. For growers with full stores, better export channels could ease domestic gluts. The comparison mixes seed, table and processing potatoes across countries, and it rests on one analysis of trade statistics.
India sells its fresh potatoes abroad at one of the lowest prices among major exporters. An analysis of UN Comtrade data by IndianPotato, published on 25 September, puts the average export price in 2025 at ₹18.86 per kg, or about $0.216, free on board.
India exported 417,000 tonnes of fresh or chilled potatoes in 2025. The shipments earned ₹786 crore, or $90.2 million.
How India compares
The analysis compares 11 large exporters. Canada earned the most, at ₹64.08 per kg. The Netherlands earned ₹46.30 per kg, and the United States ₹45.63 per kg. China earned ₹34.62 per kg. Only Pakistan was cheaper than India, at ₹17.63 per kg. The weighted average of the 11 exporters was ₹34.30 per kg.
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The Nepal effect
One neighbour explains much of the low average. Nepal bought 229,000 tonnes, or 55% of all Indian potato exports in 2025. It paid only ₹11.92 per kg. Other buyers paid an average of ₹27.35 per kg.
Volumes fall
Indian exports have declined over three years. In 2023, India shipped 517,000 tonnes at ₹16.47 per kg. In 2024, it shipped 506,000 tonnes at ₹19.12 per kg. In 2025, volume fell to 417,000 tonnes, and the price slipped to ₹18.86 per kg.
The figures use HS code 0701 and a 2025 average exchange rate of ₹87.16 per dollar, according to the analysis. Prices are free on board, so they do not include freight to the buyer.
Why it matters
India is one of the largest potato producers in the world, but it exports only a small share of its crop, mainly to nearby markets by road. Low export prices reflect short trade routes and bulk table potatoes, not only quality. Price comparisons between countries also mix different products, from seed potatoes to processing potatoes. Still, the data show that India earns far less per kilogram than other exporters. Growth in exports to more distant markets would need better grading, varieties that meet buyer specifications and reliable cold-chain logistics. With stores full at home, higher-value export channels would help Indian growers and traders.
Photo: Potatoes at Koyambedu wholesale market, Chennai, India (illustrative). McKay Savage / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
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Sources
- UN Comtrade (HS 0701) — https://comtradeplus.un.org/
- IndianPotato analysis — https://indianpotato.com/india-cheapest-potato-export-price-per-kg/
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