Wholesale Dates India 2025: Sourcing, Prices, Grades & RFQ
A practical, research-backed playbook for wholesale sourcing of premium dates in India—which varieties to buy, updated price bands, how to spec grades that sellers actually honor, and the exact RFQ to secure supply at the right landed cost.
- Top movers: Kimia, Medjool, Ajwa, Deglet Noor, Mabroom, Safawi, Zahidi.
- Indicative wholesale (₹/kg, Sep 2025): Kimia 180–450; Medjool 1,000–2,300+; Ajwa 1,100–1,800; Mabroom 650–1,200; Safawi 450–800; Deglet Noor 320–700; Zahidi 90–200. (Ranges vary by size grade, pack, crop year, currency and freight.)
- Source smart: Importers/distributors in Mumbai–Delhi–Chennai–Ahmedabad; APMC hubs; vetted B2B sellers; seasonal domestic growers.
- Spec to win: Grade/size (count per kg), moisture & Brix, defects, crop year, pack, and (for soft dates) cold-chain history.
Price-source snapshots for these bands: Kimia, Medjool, Ajwa, Deglet Noor, Safawi, Mabroom, Zahidi—see citations beside the price table below.
Varieties India Buys in Bulk
Keep a balanced mix of soft (Kimia, Ajwa, premium Medjool), semi-soft (Mabroom, Safawi) and semi-dry (Deglet Noor, Zahidi) to cover gifting, retail price ladders, HORECA and industrial use.
Kimia (Iran) — Soft Crowd Favorite
Glossy, tender, sweet—great for 500 g/1 kg retail and festive boxes. Needs cooler handling for best texture.
Medjool (Jordan/Israel/USA) — Jumbo Premium
Caramel-like, large to jumbo; size count drives price. Flagship gifting SKU and gourmet retail mainstay.
Ajwa (Saudi Arabia) — High-Prestige Soft
Deep flavor, cultural cachet; authenticity and defect tolerance matter for premiums.
Mabroom (Saudi Arabia) — Chewy, Slender
Honeyed, elongated; steadier than very soft types in ambient India lanes.
Deglet Noor (Tunisia/Algeria) — Semi-Dry Workhorse
Amber, semi-dry; ideal for bakery, granola, bars; ambient-stable and easy to chop.
Safawi • Zahidi
Safawi: mid-premium soft; Zahidi: nutty, value semi-dry with long shelf life.
Wholesale Price Ranges (₹/kg)
Indicative India wholesale bands as of September 2025. Expect movement with grade/size, origin/crop year, pack, USD/INR and freight. Always demand written specs, photos, and (for soft dates) cold-chain history.
| Variety (Origin) | Common Grades | Packs | Indicative Wholesale (₹/kg) | Price snapshots / notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimia (Iran) | Super / Jumbo / Large | 10 kg loose; 5 kg masters | ₹180–₹450 | Recent India listings cluster ~₹175–₹345 and up to ~₹450 depending on grade/brand. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0} |
| Medjool (Jordan/Israel/USA) | Jumbo / Large / Choice | 5 kg / 10 kg | ₹1,000–₹2,300+ | Multiple wholesale offers span ~₹1,000–₹2,500/kg; size count drives premium. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1} |
| Ajwa (Saudi Arabia) | Large / Medium | 5 kg cartons; gift | ₹1,100–₹1,800 | Typical wholesale quotes sit ~₹1,100–₹1,800/kg. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2} |
| Mabroom (Saudi Arabia) | Jumbo / Large | 5–10 kg | ₹650–₹1,200 | Wholesale seller clusters in this range by grade/brand. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} |
| Safawi (Saudi Arabia) | Large / Medium | 5 kg | ₹450–₹800 | Recent India listings in ~₹450–₹800/kg band. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4} |
| Deglet Noor (Tunisia/Algeria) | Branch / Pitted / Diced | 10 kg industry; 5 kg retail master | ₹320–₹700 | Wholesale offers frequently quoted in this span for bulk/retail masters. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5} |
| Zahidi (Iraq/Iran) | Medium / Economy | 10 kg loose | ₹90–₹200 | Economy cartons quoted near ₹90/kg and upwards depending on lot/brand. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6} |
Note: Public listings are indicative; validate grade (count/kg, defects), brand, crop year and lane costs before PO.
Procurement Calendar
- Aug–Nov: New-crop contracts and best selection for premium size grades.
- Dec–Feb: Steady inflows; negotiate Q1 promo volumes.
- Mar–May: Ramadan demand; pre-book premium lots early.
- Jun–Jul: Off-peak—value buys on semi-dry/industrial specs.
Where to Source
- Importers & Master Distributors (Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad) — widest assortment, documentation, replenishment cadence.
- APMC wholesale hubs — competitive spot pricing; inspect lots in person; move fast on high-grade finds.
- Vetted B2B platforms — shortlist by licenses/trade history/logistics rating; request samples.
- Domestic growers/packers (seasonal) — align on grading language and pack specs for consistency.
Due diligence: FSSAI license, GSTIN, import docs (if imported), pest/aflatoxin tests where relevant, crop year, and (for soft dates) temperature-logger data.
Quality & Specs Checklist
- Variety + Origin (e.g., “Medjool — Jordan”, “Kimia — Iran”).
- Grade/Size: Jumbo/Large/Choice or count/kg (e.g., Medjool 16–18 / 18–22 / 22–26).
- Moisture & Brix targets; texture expectations by SKU.
- Defects tolerances (skin separation, fermentation, insect, foreign matter).
- Seed/Pitted/Chopped specs; for pitted/chopped include pit fragment ppm.
- Crop Year (avoid mixed crops unless documented).
- Pack (5/10 kg, liners, retail masters, vacuum/MAP if needed).
- Temperature history for soft varieties (logger data on long hauls).
- Certs/Tests (FSSAI, aflatoxin/pesticide where applicable; organic if claimed).
Packaging & Storage
- Retail masters: 10×500 g or 20×250 g in a 5 kg master; print MFD/PKD, batch, best-before, veg logo, nutrition.
- Industry packs: 10 kg poly-lined cartons; vacuum/MAP for chopped/paste.
- Storage: Soft dates cool (4–12 °C); semi-dry 15–20 °C dry ambient; avoid humidity/odors.
- Rotation: FEFO by batch and crop year.
Compliance (FSSAI) & HSN
Labels (India retail): include FSSAI license/logo, veg symbol, product name, net quantity, batch/lot, MFD/PKD, best-before/expiry, nutrition, storage advice, and responsible business details per FSS (Labelling & Display) Regulations, 2020. :contentReference[oaicite:7]{index=7}
HSN/HS basics: Dates fall under HS 0804.10 (global HS 6-digit level; India aligns at 6-digit). Use your tax advisor/CHA for the latest duty/GST applicability. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
Landed Cost & Quote Comparison
| Component | How to Calculate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | Supplier quote per kg (FOB/CIF/EXW) | Note Incoterm clearly. |
| Freight & insurance | Ocean/air + insurance per kg | Air only for urgent soft-date gaps. |
| Duty & taxes | Apply current duty + GST | Confirm with CHA/tax advisor. |
| Inland logistics | Port → WH → customer | Include cool-chain where required. |
| Handling & wastage | % of value or per kg | Allow for sorting losses on soft dates. |
| Landed ₹/kg | Sum all above ÷ net kilos | Compare suppliers apples-to-apples. |
Negotiation levers: volume tiers, size-count flexibility, mixed-variety pallets, off-peak delivery windows, and packing your own retail masters.
Copy-Paste RFQ Template
Subject: RFQ – <VARIETY> Dates (Grade/Count), <CITY>, <MONTH YEAR>
Hello <Supplier Name>,
We seek <VARIETY> dates for wholesale distribution in India.
Specs:
• Variety & Origin: <Medjool – Jordan / Kimia – Iran / etc.>
• Grade / Count per kg: <e.g., Jumbo 16–18 or Large 18–22>
• Crop Year: <YYYY>
• Moisture & Brix: <targets or supplier standard>
• Defects Tolerance: <max % by type>
• Pack: <5 kg / 10 kg> with inner liner; retail masters if available (10×500 g)
• Quantity (first PO / monthly): <e.g., 3 MT / 10 MT>
• Delivery: <City, State> • Timeline: <date range>
• Documents: FSSAI, test reports (aflatoxin/pesticide if applicable), CoA, phyto (if imported)
• Incoterm: <FOB/CIF/Ex-warehouse>
• Payment Terms: <e.g., 30% advance, balance against docs>
• Validity: Quote valid for <X> days
Please quote:
1) Unit price (₹/kg) by grade/pack
2) Minimum order and lead time
3) Logistics options (reefer if soft dates)
4) Photos and 1–2 kg sample availability
Thanks,
<Your Name & Company>
<GSTIN / FSSAI no.> | <Phone>
Keywords to seed in your RFQ (helps replies & SERP)
Frequently Asked Questions
- Soft vs semi-dry — how do I choose?
- Soft (Kimia/Ajwa/Medjool) for gifting & premium mouthfeel; semi-dry (Deglet Noor/Zahidi) for shelf stability and industrial use. Carry both for a resilient assortment.
- What size-count is premium for Medjool?
- Jumbo counts like 16–18 or 18–22 command premiums. Ensure the count is printed on cartons and matches samples.
- How long do dates keep?
- Soft dates: 6–9 months if kept cool; semi-dry: up to 12 months at 15–20 °C. Always confirm crop year, packaging integrity and storage guidance.
- Can I private-label imports?
- Yes—work with importers/packers offering retail masters, compliant labels and traceability. Budget for packaging and QC.
- Best way to avoid overpaying?
- Issue a spec-driven RFQ, compare landed ₹/kg, buy post-harvest, and lock volumes ahead of festivals. Track currency and freight.
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