The duo’s entrepreneurial journey began in 2016 with a digital freight forwarding venture, scaling it to a ₹6 crore business. When the pandemic disrupted the global supply chain, they pivoted to create Citrus Freight—a platform designed to address the unique challenges of exporting high-quality perishable goods. Today, Citrus Freight boasts a 25-member team and has empowered 25,000 exporters to access international markets.
Bridging the Gap for Indian Farmers
India is the largest producer of agricultural and perishable goods, yet it accounts for just 2% of the global export market. High spoilage rates, convoluted documentation processes, and fragmented logistics are significant barriers.
"Exporting fresh produce is unnecessarily complex," says Biplob. "From price discovery to delivery, inefficiencies in the system hurt farmers and exporters."
Citrus Freight set out to change this narrative. As India’s first reefer container shipping platform, the company focuses exclusively on export-quality produce—a niche often neglected by traditional logistics providers.
What Sets Citrus Freight Apart
Citrus Freight combines technology and innovation to make exporting perishables simpler, faster, and more reliable:
- AI-Powered Price Discovery: Exporters can determine landed costs and secure bookings in seconds—a process that previously took 72 hours.
- Reduced Spoilage Rates: Real-time temperature monitoring and rigorous quality checks have brought spoilage rates down to less than 5%, boosting exporters’ profits by up to 20%.
- Smarter Vessel Scheduling: Using proprietary AI, Citrus Freight helps exporters identify vessels with optimal transit times and reliable performance, ensuring timely deliveries and minimal risks.
Driving Impact at Scale
With backing from investors like Caret Capital and Intercont Freight Liners, Citrus Freight has transformed cold chain logistics for 25,000 SMEs. By tackling inefficiencies, the platform has empowered Indian exporters to compete globally.
“We’ve built something as intuitive as planning a trip on MakeMyTrip,” Ricky explains. “It’s efficient, user-friendly, and tailored to the needs of agri-exporters.”
Changing the Landscape of Agri Exports
India’s farm produce is classified into three categories:
- Export Quality: High-standard produce meeting international demands.
- Supermarket Quality: Moderate quality for urban consumers.
- Mandi Quality: Goods for local wholesale markets.
While logistics providers like Snowman and Celsius serve supermarket and mandi-level produce, Citrus Freight stands out with its dedication to export-quality goods. By simplifying logistics, the company reduces barriers and creates global growth opportunities for SMEs.
Looking Ahead
As Citrus Freight continues to grow, its mission remains steadfast: to simplify and scale cold chain logistics, ensuring Indian fresh produce reaches every corner of the world. With innovative solutions and unwavering commitment, the company is set to lead a transformative journey in agri-exports.
Disclaimer: The content of this post has been automatically published from an agency feed without any changes to the original text and has not been reviewed by our company's editor. Our editorial team or company does not take responsibility for any errors or inaccuracies.
