Chile's kiwifruit export to India is expected to double to 10,000 tonnes this year, as the country enjoys customs duty advantage over other competing nations like New Zealand, according to a trade body.

The south American country produces around 2,00,000 tonnes of kiwifruit per year, out of which 90 per cent are exported mostly to European nations like Germany and Italy.

With the demand for kiwifruit growing in India, Chilian Fruits Exporters Association is eying to boost export of the fruit in the south Asian country.

"We started exporting kiwifruit 2-3 years ago. We exported 5,000 tonnes last year. So far this year, we have surpassed the last year's level to 8,000 tonnes. We are hopefull of reaching 10,000 tonnes mark by end of 2018 calendar year," the association Director Marketing Charif Christian Carvajal told PTI.

Chile grows kiwifruit in around 9,000 hectare and the produce is marketed across the world during May-October, when other producing nations have off-season, he said.

The association for the first time has launched a marketing campaign in India to promote Chilean kiwifruit.

Elaboring more, Carolina Vasquez, who is trade commissioner at Embassy of Chile here, said India has signed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Chile under which customs duty on many products, including kiwifruit, are lower.

It is cheaper for India to import kiwifruit from Chile as customs duty is 15 per cent as against 30 per cent duty for shipments from other countries, she added.

Gurgoan-based food marketing consultancy firm, S S Associates Director Sumit Saran said that India is importing large quantities of imported fruits like apple, orange and kiwifruit.

"India has become one of the fastest growing market for fruits across the world. Consumers are ready to try fruits of other countries. Five years ago, kiwifruit was a new fruit but now it is the top three imported fruit in India," he said.

India imported around 30,000 tonnes of kiwifruit last year from countries like New Zealand, Chile and Iran. The fruit is sold in retail markets in India at Rs 60-85 for a pack of three fruits.

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