Vegetables & Fruit via air freight to India

Fresh vegetables & fruit: air freight as the only option

Fresh vegetables and fruit have a shelf life of days — not weeks. Products like asparagus, strawberries, mangoes or avocados from distant destinations simply cannot be shipped by sea without quality loss. Air freight is the only way to bring fresh produce from the field to the supermarket within the product life cycle.

The Netherlands is the logistics hub of the European fresh produce trade. The proximity of Schiphol, the flower auction in Aalsmeer and the large cold stores in Haarlemmermeer make it the ideal hub for fresh air freight.

Popular routes

• Kenya, Ethiopia → NL: French beans, sugar snaps, avocados
• Peru, Chile → NL: berries, asparagus, grapes (winter season)
• Morocco → NL: tomatoes, peppers (but also by road)
• NL → worldwide: Dutch tomatoes, peppers, strawberries

Exporting to India

India is one of the most complex yet promising destinations for air freight. The country is growing rapidly and the demand for specialized European products — machinery, pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, and high-tech components — is increasing year after year. Schiphol offers direct cargo flights to Mumbai (BOM), Delhi (DEL), and Bangalore (BLR).

Indian customs — be well prepared

India is known for its complex customs procedures. Import duties are high (on average 10–30% per product category) and documentation requirements are strict. An incorrect HS code or incomplete invoice will inevitably lead to delays. Additionally, certain products require prior registration with Indian authorities (BIS, CDSCO for medical devices).

Points of attention

• BIS registration mandatory for many electronic devices
• CDSCO approval for pharmaceuticals and medical devices
• FSSAI registration for food products
• Import license may be required depending on the type of goods
• Payment via Letter of Credit common for higher values

Considerations for vegetables & fruit air freight

Cold chain

Fresh vegetables and fruit are extremely temperature sensitive. Depending on the product, the optimal transport temperature varies from 0–1°C (berries, leafy greens) to 10–14°C (tropical fruit). Aircargo.nl arranges specialized cold cargo handling at Schiphol and monitors the temperature chain from start to finish.

Phytosanitary inspections

All fresh products from non-EU countries undergo phytosanitary inspection upon entry into the EU. This can add 4–8 hours of extra processing time. Aircargo.nl notifies your shipment in advance to the NVWA to minimize delays.

Customs & import duties

Fresh fruit and vegetables fall under the EU Common Customs Tariff (CCT) and may incur high seasonal import duties — especially for products that compete with EU cultivation (tomatoes, strawberries, citrus).