Venturing into Pickle Export Business; Good Opportunity for “Atmnirbhar” Indians

To venture into one’s own business can be a welcome decision especially at this juncture,when most of us would prefer restricting our personal or business-related investments, and aim for maximizing our returns on the limited investments done. Well there are certain feasible business ideas in the Agriculture export segment, and exporting homemade pickles is one of them. In terms of export business profit margins, the returns can be really quite higher when compared with the expenses incurred, since Pickle export from India is demanded all over the world.Homemade pickles are in greater demand in countries of the Middle East, UAE and countries where Indian population is more in number. Pickle export from India has shown significant growth in last 10 years. In the year 2009 the total value of Pickle export was 15.76 USD million whereas the data of 2019 reports the export value of 110.1 USD million, which shows a tremendous growth of 733% approximately. 

Globally, exports of pickles totaled US$544.3 million in 2019, and the dollar change reflects a 2.7% increase in value since 2015. At present India has a bog export market comprising nearly 54-55 countries and the country’s export market is worth 100-110 million US dollars approximately.  

Given below are the steps necessary to start pickle export business? 

Company Registration: 

One needs to get his/her company registered first in the Indian official records (Ministry of Corporate Affairs). 

Obtaining Export License:

Once Company registration is over then once should apply for the Export license to the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). However Not all items which are to be exported require an export license. The export license is only required for exporting goods that are mentioned in Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) Classifications of Export and Import Items. One should confirm whether the products he/she wants to exports, need an export license or not. 

Target market Selection: 

Next step is to look for the markets or destinations where the products can be exported. One can take the help of trusted B2B websites or companies for selecting the potential markets. There are quite many websites giving authentic information to know the names of major countries importing pickles from India. In case you have knowledge of successful exporters, contract them with priority. India’s leading consumers are USA United Kingdom Germany Canada and many more.

Looking for Genuine & Professional trade counterpart: 

Once the above-mentioned steps are complete then look forward to find professional and genuine buyers with whom you can establish long term business association. Use various trade related portals to find out such buyers.  

Arranging & Executing Export Orders: 

After finding relevant buyers or importers, arranging export orders in organized manner becomes important. Now one has to fill the arranged order form,with proper details and begin exporting your products.Help can be taken from various companies that specialize in all processes, whether it is the packaging of the products or the shipping process, management, or making the formalities and getting the document work done. 

Relevant Documents Needed for Pickle Export Business 

• For starting any business, one should have the correction documents with himself. These documents are: 

• GST registration

• PAN card

• Forex enabled bank account

• Central Food License or FSSAI registration

 Key facts to Remember 

• If one wishes to start pickle export from India, it can be done after following the protocols set by the FSSAI and other regulatory bodies governing the same.

• For starting pickle export business from India, one should have an FSSAI license. 

• The five major markets for Indian pickles are Russia, the USA, Belgium, Netherlands, and France.

•  If looking to export Pickle, it is essential to have information on latest export data of Pickle, worldwide pickle buyers/importers, procedures to export Pickle, the duties and taxes applicable on export of Pickle from India etc. 

All in all the opportunity is huge and feasible in exporting pickles from India, and in line with Mr. Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmnirbhar Bharat i.e. building a Self-Reliant India in a post COVID-19 world.The stimulus package mentioned by our PM on the concept of “Atmnirbhar Bharat” aims to strengthen India’s cottage and home industries, small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other industries. In a way doing own business (in this context, entering into pickle export business) is surely a welcome decision for Indians who want to be self-reliant or “Atmnirbhar”.