The crop year 2009 marked the production growing in excess of 100000 MT for the first time and paved the way for exports of raisins from India.
The main areas of Raisin production are in the state of Maharashtra (District of Sangli, Solapur, Satara, Kolhapur and Nashik) and Karnataka (District of Belgaum and Bijapur).
The two main trading centers are Sangli and Nashik.
Sangli area accounts for more than 80 % of the production of raisins in India and produces almost all the varieties. All the major producing districts of raisins in India except Nashik are within 200 Km distance from Sangli.
Nashik accounts for the balance 20% of the production of raisins in India and produces primarily the Sulphur based golden variety of raisins.
Sangli is now a dominant force for the production of the wine, the table variety of grapes, and the raisins variety, the other being Nashik.
Previously India had been a net importer of raisins from Afghanistan and Iran.
Since 2009 India has been a net exporter in a big way catering through all the varieties of raisins.