Business · Trade · 7 hrs ago
Festive demand lifts India’s dry fruit and chocolate imports
Demand for imported festive foods in India is up 10-12% year on year, traders say.
The products include tree nuts, chocolates, honey-coated nuts and butter biscuits, sold in shops and gift hampers.
A lower 5% GST and favourable global harvests are among the factors supporting demand.
Dry fruit imports typically rise during the festive period, and August to December accounted for about 45% of India’s dry fruit imports in 2025.
Cashew imports rose 31% year on year in September, while imports of chocolates and cocoa-containing products increased 26%.
Higher import costs and delays are leading customers to choose smaller hampers, with some shifting from ₹10,000 options to those priced at ₹3,500-5,000.
Indian brands are responding with hampers that combine local and imported products, but no further developments are specified.
India’s festive-season demand for imported dry fruits and chocolates is up 10-12% year on year, traders say.
Lower goods and services tax and favourable global harvests are among the factors supporting demand.
Dry fruit imports rose 8.1% year on year in value to $1.8 billion during the 2025 festive period.
Cashew imports rose 31% year on year in September, while imports of chocolates and cocoa-containing products increased 26%.
Some customers are choosing less expensive gift hampers as delayed imports and higher costs put pressure on prices.
- Who
- Indian traders and importers report increased demand for dry fruits and chocolates.
- What
- Festive demand is lifting imports of dry fruits, chocolates and other food products.
- When
- During the festive season; the article was published on November 3, 2026.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Traders cite growing consumer demand, a 5% GST rate and favourable global harvests.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
India imported 0.9 billion kg of dry fruits during the August-to-December festive period.
India imported $514.6 million worth of almonds during the festive period.
The August-to-December festive period accounted for about 45% of India’s annual dry fruit imports.
Cashew imports rose 31% year on year, while imports of chocolates and cocoa-containing products increased 26%.
- Demand growth
- 10-12% year on year
- GST rate
- 5%
- Dry fruit imports, 2025 festive period
- 1.03 billion kg, up 20.5% from 0.9 billion kg in 2022
- Dry fruit import value
- $1.8 billion, up 8.1% year on year
- Cashew imports in September
- Up 31% year on year
What people are saying
The reduced GST of 5% has also made these products more accessible
We're seeing a big jump in demand for cheese, chocolates and tree nuts now that tier-2 and tier-3 cities are joining the trend.
Diwali demand is definitely there, but because imports are delayed and getting expensive, customers are scaling back from ₹10,000 hampers to the ₹3,500-5,000 range.