Recently, the Nuts and Dried Fruits Council India (NDFCI) organised its first conference – MEWA 2024 on 16 & 17 Feb.
MEWA 2024 is considered India’s foremost B2B exhibition for nuts and dried fruits. It featured participants from over 20 countries with 200 exhibitors and more than 6000 people attendees.
The event was inaugurated by Om Birla, Hon’ble Speaker of India’s Lok Sabha, who acknowledged the transformative role of platforms like MEWA 2024 in fostering the growth and consolidation of the sector.
The event has been organised to elevate the nuts and dried fruits industry by fostering advancements in research, innovation, production, trade, and consumption.
Australia, which exports Almonds to India, also participated in NDFCI’s inaugural MEWA Cricket Tournament.
It is reported that ten tenacious teams participated in the tournament which was “a thrilling” and “an edge-of-the-seat sporting spectacle” for the audience.
As per ABS data, almonds are a most important part of the Australia – India trade with a value that has averaged $A110m per annum over the last decade.
ECTA resulted in the Indian tariff on Australian almonds being reduced by 50% and a quota of 34,000 tonnes.
In 2023, Almond Board of Australia (ABA) CEO Tim Jackson has observed:
“While other industries are just starting their Indian export campaigns, we have an established network and as our crop grows, so will the interest from these buyers. Not a week goes by that our marketers do not receive enquiries from India about purchasing more almonds.”
The demand for almonds in India is considerably more than Australia’s predicted supply. According to the Australian Nut Industry Council (ANIC), only 15-30% of the Australian crop meets the Indian consumer demand preference regarding quality.
It’s estimated that 164,700 tonnes will be harvested across Australia this year.
Current Australian almond production is about 180,000 tonnes, this is expected to grow to
200,000 tonnes by 2030.
Currently, India does not produce almonds, pistachios, macadamias, chestnuts, or hazelnuts so there is no local industry claim to support protection via tariffs.
With rising economic conditions, the Indian middle class are driving greater consumption of nuts. And it would be an understatement to say that India is at the pinnacle of the consumption pyramid.
Indian middle-class love for almonds is based on its being a top nut source of plant protein and rich in gut-loving fibre. Just a handful of almonds can provide 20g of protein per 100g (or 6g in a 30g handful) or make their fibre content roughly on par with two bananas.
To meet this increasing demand, Indian trade associations are seeking greater international collaborations between growers and sellers.
Mr Jackson added:
“While other industries are just starting their Indian export campaigns, we have an established network and as our crop grows, so will the interest from these buyers.”
Reflecting on the event’s success, Gunjan Jain, President of NDFCI and MD of Nutraj India, expressed gratitude to the industry leaders and participants.
“The inaugural event of NDFCI facilitated invaluable partnerships and insights, marking a pivotal moment in the history of the dry fruits and nuts category. The event witnessed the successful culmination of numerous business meetings and deals, underscoring its resounding success.”
It is reported that Mewa 2025 is already seeing great interest from international brands looking to launch their products in India’s most eminent retail stores.
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