India, January 18th, 2025: In 2021, two university friends, Biplob Barik and Ricky Goyal, turned their shared vision into a pioneering venture—Citrus Freight. Based in Bangalore, the company was born with a clear purpose: to simplify cross-border cold chain logistics and help Indian fresh produce reach global supermarkets seamlessly.
The journey began years earlier. In 2016, Biplob and Ricky co-founded a digital freight-forwarding business. It grew into a ₹6 crore enterprise, but the pandemic’s disruptions led them to rethink their strategy. Recognizing the challenges faced by agricultural exporters, they pivoted to create Citrus Freight—India’s first reefer container shipping platform focused on perishable exports.
Today, Citrus Freight has a 25-member team and a network of 25,000 exporters who rely on its innovative platform to unlock international markets.
Bridging the Gap for Indian Agri-Exports
India is the world’s largest producer of agricultural goods, yet its share in the global market for perishables is just 2%. High spoilage rates, fragmented supply chains, and cumbersome documentation prevent exporters from tapping into the full potential of global trade.
Indian produce is divided into three categories:
- Export Quality: High-standard produce that meets international benchmarks.
- Supermarket Quality: Goods for urban consumers.
- Mandi Quality: Produce for local markets.
While established logistics brands serve supermarket and mandi-quality produce, export-quality perishables remain underserved. This gap is precisely where Citrus Freight comes in.
Simplifying Logistics with Technology
Citrus Freight operates like a MakeMyTrip for reefer shipping. The platform streamlines the end-to-end process from price discovery to delivery, enabling exporters to focus on their core business.
What Makes Citrus Freight Different?
- Instant Price and Planning Discovery: Exporters can calculate landed costs, plan shipments, and book services within seconds. What once took 72 hours now happens in moments.
- Reduced Spoilage Rates: Through real-time temperature monitoring and strict quality management, Citrus Freight has reduced spoilage rates to below 5%, compared to the industry average of 20%. This improvement translates to a 20% profit increase for exporters.
- Smart Vessel Scheduling: Using proprietary AI, the platform identifies vessels with shorter transit times and reliable performance, ensuring faster and safer deliveries.
Impact That Matters
Citrus Freight has already transformed the lives of 25,000 SME agri-exporters. By reducing spoilage, cutting costs, and improving service quality, the company is making Indian fresh produce a competitive force in the global market.
Fueling Growth with Strategic Investments
Backed by leading venture capital firms like Caret Capital and Intercont Freight Liners, Citrus Freight is well-positioned to scale further. With India’s agricultural export potential worth billions, the company aims to redefine the $500 billion global cold chain logistics landscape.
The Road Ahead
Citrus Freight’s vision is clear: to empower Indian exporters, simplify logistics, and create a global footprint for India’s fresh produce. As it continues to innovate and expand, the company invites investors and exporters to join its journey of transformation.
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