Citrus Freight Acquires 25,000 SME Exports on Its Platform Through Its AI-Enabled Price Discovery Model

Citrus Freight, founded by Biplob Barik and Ricky Goyal, empowers 25,000 SME exporters with AI-driven cold chain logistics, revolutionizing India’s fresh produce export industry.

Citrus Freight

In 2021, Biplob Barik and Ricky Goyal, two university friends with a shared passion for solving real-world challenges, founded Citrus Freight in Bangalore. What started as a response to inefficiencies in India’s agricultural export sector quickly became a game-changer for the industry. Their mission? To help Indian fresh produce reach global supermarkets by simplifying cold chain logistics.

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:

1. AI-Powered Price Discovery

Exporters can determine landed costs and secure bookings in seconds—a process that previously took 72 hours.

2. 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%.

3. 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:

  1. Export Quality: High-standard produce meeting international demands.
  2. Supermarket Quality: Moderate quality for urban consumers.
  3. 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.

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