Chapter 01 · Citrus Selections
Imported Oranges in India
PR Agrifresh imports oranges into India from South Africa and Egypt between January and September, across Valencia and Navel types. The two are not interchangeable — one is built for juice, the other for eating — and getting that choice right is most of what makes an orange programme work.
- Origins
- South Africa · Egypt
- Season
- January — September
- Handling
- Temperature controlled
Chapter 02 · Character
Valencia and Navel — which one you need
The world's juicing orange. Thin rind, very high juice content, few or no seeds, and juice that does not turn bitter on standing — which is why it dominates commercial juicing. Later in the season than Navel, and the better choice for food service, hotels, juice bars and any buyer selling by the litre rather than the piece.
Chapter 03 · Product detail
Season and origins
The eating orange. Seedless, thicker rind that peels easily, segments that separate cleanly, and the small secondary fruit at the blossom end that gives the type its name. Navel juice develops bitterness within hours of extraction, so it is not a juicing variety. Earlier in the season, and the right choice for retail and gifting.
- 01Whole form
- 02First reveal
- 03Structure
- 04Prepared detail
- 05Interior focus
Chapter 04 · Inside
Imported orange price per kg
Natural structure
Fresh visual cues
Chapter 05 · Selection
What we select for
- 01
Rind colour — full, even colour break, since a green-shouldered orange does not sell regardless of how it eats
- 02
Juice content — measured for Valencia consignments, where it is the entire commercial proposition
- 03
Brix and acid ratio — the standard maturity measure for citrus, specified rather than assumed
- 04
Rind firmness — enough structure to survive the voyage without puffing or softening
- 05
Peelability on Navel — the reason a shopper chooses it over a Valencia
- 06
Count uniformity within the carton so retail pricing works
Chapter 06 · Origin to arrival
Who buys imported oranges in India
The imported orange season in India runs January to September, peaking around May. India's own Nagpur orange season is a winter crop, so imported citrus covers most of the rest of the year.
- 01
Orchard
- 02
Harvest
- 03
Selection
- 04
Packing
- 05
Cold storage
- 06
Shipping
- 07
Arrival
- 08
Distribution
Product gallery
Valencia and Navel — which one you need
Valencia
The world's juicing orange. Thin rind, very high juice content, few or no seeds, and juice that does not turn bitter on standing — which is why it dominates commercial juicing. Later in the season than Navel, and the better choice for food service, hotels, juice bars and any buyer selling by the litre rather than the piece.
Navel
The eating orange. Seedless, thicker rind that peels easily, segments that separate cleanly, and the small secondary fruit at the blossom end that gives the type its name. Navel juice develops bitterness within hours of extraction, so it is not a juicing variety. Earlier in the season, and the right choice for retail and gifting.
Season and origins
The imported orange season in India runs January to September, peaking around May. India's own Nagpur orange season is a winter crop, so imported citrus covers most of the rest of the year.
| Origin | Window | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Egypt | January — April | Short transit to India, strong Valencia programmes, competitive on landed cost |
| South Africa | May — September | The southern-hemisphere window. Strong across both Navel and Valencia with rigorous export grading |
Imported orange price per kg
Orange wholesale price in India moves with origin, type, count size, grade, brix and arrival week. Egyptian fruit and South African fruit price differently, and juicing grades price differently from premium eating grades of the same variety.
We quote per consignment against a specification rather than publishing a rate that would be stale within a fortnight. Send the type, count size, monthly volume and delivery city for current landed pricing.
What we select for
- 01
Rind colour — full, even colour break, since a green-shouldered orange does not sell regardless of how it eats
- 02
Juice content — measured for Valencia consignments, where it is the entire commercial proposition
- 03
Brix and acid ratio — the standard maturity measure for citrus, specified rather than assumed
- 04
Rind firmness — enough structure to survive the voyage without puffing or softening
- 05
Peelability on Navel — the reason a shopper chooses it over a Valencia
- 06
Count uniformity within the carton so retail pricing works
Who buys imported oranges in India
Three channels drive most of the volume. Retail chains list Navel through the first half of the year as an everyday premium citrus line. Juice bars, hotels and QSR operators buy Valencia by the carton and measure it on juice yield rather than appearance. And wholesale traders at Vashi and Azadpur move both, sizing their orders against what the domestic Nagpur crop is doing that month.
The mistake we see most often is a buyer ordering on price and receiving a type that does not suit the use. A hotel that ends up with Navel for its juice programme discovers the bitterness problem on day two, and a retailer that lists Valencia as an eating orange gets complaints about the seeds. Specifying the type is not a detail — it is the whole decision.
Handling and cold chain
Oranges are carried at around 4 to 7°C. Citrus held below that range risks chilling injury — rind pitting and breakdown that typically appears after arrival rather than on inspection, which makes it the most expensive form of damage because it surfaces once the fruit is already with the buyer. Fruit is precooled at origin, moved under continuous temperature control and condition-checked before release.
Supply and pack formats
Supplied in original export cartons across standard count sizes to distributors, wholesale traders at Vashi APMC and Azadpur mandi, retail chains, juice programmes, HoReCa and institutional buyers.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Navel and Valencia oranges?
Navel is the eating orange — seedless, easy to peel, clean segments, but its juice turns bitter quickly. Valencia is the juicing orange — thin rind, very high juice content and juice that stays sweet on standing.
When are imported oranges available in India?
January to September, peaking around May. Egyptian fruit covers the early window and South African fruit the middle of the year.
Which orange is best for juicing?
Valencia. It has higher juice content than Navel and its juice does not develop bitterness after extraction.
What is the price of imported oranges per kg in India?
It varies by origin, type, count and arrival week. Send your specification and volume for a current landed quote.
Continue exploring
Start a conversation
Bring premium oranges to your market
Tell us whether you need eating or juicing fruit, the count size and the volume. Our teams in Navi Mumbai and Delhi will confirm availability and pricing.