Ladakh’s famed Halman apricots, known for their sweetness, organic cultivation, and high soluble solids, are gaining traction in premium international markets. In 2025, the Union Territory’s Department of Industries and Commerce, in partnership with the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), shipped 1.5 tons of fresh Halman apricots to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Qatar—marking a new push to diversify destinations beyond established hubs like Dubai and Singapore, according to FreshPlaza.com.

Harvested from the high-altitude orchards of Kargil, the apricots undergo rigorous hand-picking, quality checks, and pre-cooling protocols to maintain freshness during transit. This year’s exports were managed by the Halman Apricot Company, which pays farmers competitive rates while overseeing the full value chain from orchard to overseas market.

Global demand for premium apricots is rising, but Ladakh faces constraints—short shelf life, small-scale orchards, and high logistics costs. To overcome these, stakeholders are investing in cold chain infrastructure, breathable packaging innovations, and post-harvest processing for value-added products like dried apricots, pulp, and seabuckthorn blends.

Despite weather-related setbacks in 2024, Ladakh’s apricot sector has shipped over 55 tons internationally since 2021, tapping both fresh and processed segments. With its unique terroir and geographic indication (GI) heritage varieties like Raktsey Karpo, the region is positioning itself as a niche supplier to discerning buyers in the Middle East and Asia.

As logistics improve, Ladakh’s apricot producers aim to expand premium exports while also catering to a growing domestic market, balancing global reach with local resilience.