News

Australian macadamias are gaining real momentum in India, with promising signs of growing demand, stronger trade engagement and improved market access conditions.

Last month, Australian Macadamias attended MEWA India 2026, India’s largest nuts and dried fruit trade show, hosted by the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India). The event provided a valuable opportunity to meet directly with India’s food and beverage trade, and to gauge market sentiment first-hand.

The outlook was overwhelmingly positive, with strong interest in premium ingredients and growing appetite for new product innovation across the sector.

Major tariff reduction improves market access

In a significant step forward for Australian growers, tariffs on Australian macadamias dropped from 30% to 9% from 1 January 2026, with a clear pathway to zero by 1 January 2028.

This is a major development for the industry, improving competitiveness and strengthening long-term prospects for export growth into one of the world’s most dynamic consumer markets.

Café culture and premium everyday moments are accelerating

One of the most striking observations from MEWA India was the rapid growth of India’s aspirational café culture, alongside a rising appreciation for local coffee roasters and premium food experiences.

This shift aligns strongly with macadamias’ premium positioning, creating exciting opportunities for Australian macadamias to feature in café menus, desserts and indulgent snack offerings.

Planning is already underway for the next Australian Macadamia Festival in Mumbai later this year, with several promising concepts emerging from discussions at MEWA.

Strong potential across multiple product categories

Trade conversations at MEWA reinforced that the opportunity for macadamias in India is broad, particularly across:

• Value-added bakery, including cookies, pastries, fillings and toppings
• Premium snack formats
• Quick service restaurants (QSR) and delivery-first platforms, including ultra-fast delivery models (under 10 minutes).

These fast-moving retail and foodservice trends are creating new channels for premium nuts, and macadamias are well placed to benefit.

A market to watch

India continues to evolve quickly, and the combination of tariff reductions, expanding premium food culture and rising consumer interest makes it a market with strong potential for future growth.