The All India Grape Exporters Association expects overseas shipments to reach almost 200,000 metric tons (MT), which could beat the previous 2013-14 record by around 4%.

Indian website Financialexpress.com reported more growers in the key growing state of Maharashtra had registered with Apeda's online platform GrapeNet, with 25,547 registrations so far.

If the industry achieves its export goals this coming season, the figure would represent a 79% rise on volumes from a more difficult 2013-15.

"Harvesting has begun at some vineyards in Nashik and some flowering has been destroyed owing to rains," the association's president Jagannath Khapre told the publication.

"Around 10% of the crop has experienced cracking. But this should not impact the export scenario.

"New markets are opening up to Indian grapes. Canada, Australia and Russia have shown their interests in grapes from India," the executive said, adding around 60,000MT of the total would probably go to Europe.

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