Wholesale Guide to Sourcing Premium Dates in India: Varieties & Prices
This practical, research-driven playbook shows how to source premium dates in India—what varieties to buy, indicative wholesale price ranges, where to find reliable suppliers, and how to evaluate quality so you lock in consistent supply at the right landed cost.
- Best-selling wholesale varieties: Kimia, Medjool, Ajwa, Deglet Noor, Mabroom, Safawi, Zahidi, Piarom.
- Indicative wholesale (₹/kg, Aug 2025): Kimia 180–420; Deglet Noor 260–550; Zahidi 160–320; Piarom 700–1,200; Medjool 650–1,200+; Ajwa 1,400–2,600; Mabroom 700–1,400; Safawi 500–900. (Ranges vary by grade, pack, season, and currency.)
- Where to buy: Importers/distributors in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad; APMC mandis; vetted B2B sellers; direct Indian growers (seasonal).
- Buy like a pro: Specify grade, count/kg, moisture %, crop year, pack format, certifications, and storage history. Use FEFO and keep soft dates cool.
Premium Date Varieties India Buys in Bulk
India’s wholesale market favors a mix of soft, semi-soft, and semi-dry dates to cover gifting, retail packs, HORECA, and ingredient use. Match texture, size grade, and flavor profile to your customer segment.
Kimia (Iran) — Soft Crowd Favorite
Rich, soft, glossy skin, sweet profile. Perfect for festive packs and general retail. Requires cooler handling to preserve tenderness.
Common grades: Super / Jumbo / Large. Use-cases: Retail 500 g & 1 kg, gift boxes.
Medjool (Jordan/Israel/USA) — Jumbo Premium
Large to extra-large, chewy, caramel-like taste. A premium gifting and gourmet staple. Prices swing with size-count and origin.
Common grades: Jumbo / Large / Choice. Use-cases: Gourmet retail, hotel amenities.
Ajwa (Saudi Arabia) — High-Prestige Soft
Distinct soft texture, deep flavor, high cultural value. Often used in premium gifts; strict authenticity checks needed.
Grades: Large / Medium. Use-cases: Festive premium packs, specialized retail.
Mabroom (Saudi Arabia) — Chewy, Slender
Semi-soft to chewy, elongated shape, honeyed sweetness. Holds up well in ambient conditions compared to very soft types.
Grades: Jumbo / Large. Use-cases: Retail 1 kg, mixed-gift boxes.
Deglet Noor (Tunisia/Algeria) — Semi-Dry Workhorse
Translucent amber flesh, semi-dry, excellent for bakery and industrial use; good shelf stability at ambient.
Grades: Branch / Pitted / Diced. Use-cases: HORECA, granola, bars, bakery fillings.
Safawi • Zahidi • Piarom
Safawi: Soft and dark; Zahidi: semi-dry, nutty and economical; Piarom: long, dark-brown premium with unique flavor.
Use-cases: Retail price steps, blends, premium assortments.
Wholesale Price Ranges (₹/kg) by Variety & Grade
Below are indicative India wholesale ranges as of August 2025. Your landed price will vary with grade, count/kg, origin, crop year, pack format, currency, and freight. Always request current written quotes with specs.
| Variety (Origin) | Typical Grades | Common Packs | Indicative Wholesale (₹/kg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kimia (Iran) | Super / Jumbo / Large | 5 kg master (10×500 g), 10 kg loose | ₹180–₹420 | Cool-chain advised; festive spikes raise prices. |
| Medjool (Jordan/Israel/USA) | Jumbo / Large / Choice | 5 kg & 10 kg cartons | ₹650–₹1,200+ | Size-count drives price; branded packs cost more. |
| Ajwa (Saudi Arabia) | Large / Medium | 5 kg cartons, gift packs | ₹1,400–₹2,600 | Verify authenticity and documentation. |
| Mabroom (Saudi Arabia) | Jumbo / Large | 5 kg & 10 kg cartons | ₹700–₹1,400 | Ambient-stable vs very soft types. |
| Deglet Noor (Tunisia/Algeria) | Branch / Pitted / Diced | 10 kg industry, 5 kg retail master | ₹260–₹550 | Ideal for HORECA and bakery inputs. |
| Safawi (Saudi Arabia) | Large / Medium | 5 kg cartons | ₹500–₹900 | Popular mid-premium gifting line. |
| Zahidi (Iraq/Iran) | Medium / Economy | 10 kg loose | ₹160–₹320 | Cost-effective, semi-dry, nutty flavor. |
| Piarom (Iran) | Premium | 5 kg cartons | ₹700–₹1,200 | Distinct flavor; limited supply. |
Disclaimer: These are non-binding ranges for planning. Check latest FOB/CIF + duty + GST + inland before confirming POs.
Procurement Calendar & Seasonality
Peak harvests run August–November in many origins, with shipments into India following shortly. Festivals (Ramadan, Diwali) shift demand and price. Plan allocations 6–12 weeks ahead for premium size grades.
- Aug–Nov: Harvest & fresh contracts; best time to lock premium grades.
- Dec–Feb: Stable inflows; negotiate volumes for Q1 promotions.
- Mar–May: Ramadan demand typically peaks; secure inventory early.
- Jun–Jul: Off-peak—look for deals on semi-dry/industrial specs.
Where to Source in India
Balance price, reliability, and speed by using a multi-channel sourcing strategy:
- Importers & Master Distributors in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Ahmedabad: largest assortment, predictable replenishment, better documentation support.
- Wholesale Mandis (APMC hubs): competitive spot pricing; inspect lots in person; move quickly on high-grade finds.
- B2B Platforms: shortlist suppliers with verified licenses, trade history, and strong logistics ratings; request samples first.
- Direct Farm/Packhouse Links (Kutch & other Indian growers): fresher domestic crop in season; align on grading language and pack specs.
Quality, Grading & Specs Checklist
Write specs clearly in your RFQ/PO so suppliers quote the same grade. Use the checklist below.
- Variety + Origin: e.g., “Medjool – Jordan,” “Kimia – Iran,” “Deglet Noor – Tunisia.”
- Grade/Size: Jumbo/Large/Choice or count/kg (e.g., 16–18, 18–22, 22–26 for Medjool).
- Moisture % & Brix (°Bx): Soft dates higher moisture; semi-dry lower moisture for longer shelf life.
- Defects & Infestation: Max % for skin separation, fermentation, insect damage; insist on fumigation/phyto records where applicable.
- Seed/Pitted/Chopped: For industrial use, specify pitted tolerance and pit fragments ppm.
- Crop Year: New crop commands premium; avoid mixed crops unless documented.
- Packs: 5 kg or 10 kg cartons; inner food-grade liner; vacuum/MAP if required.
- Temperature History: For soft dates, seek logger data on long hauls.
- Certifications: FSSAI, lab tests (aflatoxin/pesticide where applicable), organic (if claimed).
Packaging, Storage & Shelf-Life
Packaging protects texture and flavor while reducing handling losses.
- Retail masters: 10×500 g or 20×250 g inside a 5 kg master; include MFD/PKD, batch, expiry/best-before, veg logo, and nutritional panel.
- Industry packs: 10 kg poly-lined cartons; for chopped/paste, prefer vacuum or MAP.
- Storage: Soft varieties: cool, 4–12 °C recommended; semi-dry: ambient 15–20 °C; avoid humidity.
- FEFO: First-expiry-first-out; track by batch and crop year.
Compliance, HSN & Documentation
Align your paperwork to move consignments swiftly:
- HSN: Dates (fresh or dried) commonly fall under HSN 0804.10 (verify with your tax advisor).
- Licenses: FSSAI for food businesses, GST; importers need IEC and relevant clearances.
- Labels: Product name, net quantity, batch/lot, MFD/PKD, expiry/best-before, veg logo, nutrition, importer/packer details.
- Taxes: Check current GST rate for your product/pack; confirm duty if importing.
Landed Cost & Quote Comparison
Compare apples to apples. Normalize all quotes to ₹/kg with the same grade and pack.
| Component | How to Calculate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base price | Supplier quote per kg (FOB/CIF/EXW) | Note Incoterm; FOB + freight vs CIF. |
| Freight & insurance | Ocean/air + insurance per kg | Air for soft dates if urgent. |
| Duty & taxes | Apply current duty + GST | Confirm with CHA/tax advisor. |
| Inland logistics | Port → warehouse → customer | Include cool-chain if needed. |
| Handling & wastage | % of value or per kg | Allow for sorting losses on soft dates. |
| Landed ₹/kg | Sum all above ÷ net kilos | Use this for price comparisons. |
Negotiation levers: volume tiers, size-count flexibility, mixed-variety pallets, off-peak delivery windows, and packing your own retail masters.
Copy-Paste RFQ Template (Long-Tail Optimized)
Use this RFQ email to get precise, comparable quotes from suppliers.
Subject: RFQ – <VARIETY> Dates (Grade & Count), <CITY>, <MONTH YEAR>
Hello <Supplier Name>,
We seek <VARIETY> dates for wholesale distribution in India.
Specs:
• Variety & Origin: <VARIETY, e.g., Medjool – Jordan / Kimia – Iran>
• Grade / Count: <e.g., Jumbo 16–18 or Large 18–22>
• Crop Year: <YYYY>
• Moisture & Brix: <Target values or supplier standard>
• Defects Tolerance: <Max %>
• Pack Format: <5 kg / 10 kg>; inner liner; retail masters if available (10×500 g)
• Quantity (first PO / monthly): <e.g., 3 MT / 10 MT>
• Delivery: <City, State>; preferred 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 quantity and lead time
3) Logistics options (reefer if soft dates)
4) Photos and 1–2 kg sample availability
Thank you,
<Your Name & Company>
<GSTIN / FSSAI no.> | <Phone>
Buyer Personas & Keywords to Include in Your RFQ
Frequently Asked Questions
- How do I choose between soft and semi-dry dates?
- Pick soft (Kimia, Ajwa) for gifting and premium mouthfeel; pick semi-dry (Deglet Noor, Zahidi) for shelf stability and industrial use. Stock a two-tier mix to cover both needs.
- What size-count is considered premium for Medjool?
- Jumbo sizes like 16–18 or 18–22 count/kg command premiums. Ensure the count is printed on the carton and matches samples.
- How long do dates keep in Indian conditions?
- Soft dates: 6–9 months if kept cool; semi-dry: up to 12 months at 15–20 °C. Always check the crop year and packaging integrity.
- Can I private-label imported dates?
- Yes—work with importers or packhouses offering retail masters, compliant labels, and traceability. Budget for packaging and QC.
- What is the best way to avoid overpaying?
- Issue spec-driven RFQs, compare landed ₹/kg, buy post-harvest, and lock volumes ahead of festivals. Track currency and freight trends.
Copy the RFQ Template — Make suppliers quote to your spec.
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