NEW DELHI, April 24 -- India's avocado demand is surging, but domestic supply is still playing catch-up, keeping the country reliant on imports even as local cultivation expands.

Government data show imports have more than tripled in two years, rising to $42.27 million in FY26 (till February), from about $27 million in FY25 and $13.5 million in FY24. Domestic output, meanwhile, has increased more gradually-from about 6,000 tonnes in 2023 to around 9,000 tonnes in 2026, experts said.

The mismatch highlights a widening gap: rising health-driven consumption is outpacing India's nascent production base, forcing the market to lean on overseas suppliers even as farmers begin to scale up planting.

The area under avocado cultivation has expand...