Dry fruit imports up 20%, veggie exports hit

Amritsar: Traders are paying a heavy price for regional instabilities, ranging from the US-Israel tensions with Iran to the ongoing conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.While dry fruits imported from Afghanistan have already risen by 20%, the suspension of shipping line operations has caused prices to plunge for several commodities—especially vegetables—destined for Iran. Jatinder Khurana, secretary, Amritsar Fruits and Vegetables Merchant Association, said on Wednesday that export containers from Amritsar and other regions bound for Iran remain stranded in transit. "This has resulted in heavy losses for farmers, commission agents, and vegetable traders," he said. Prices for several commodities have dropped sharply due to the disruption. "Grapes, which previously sold for Rs 100 to Rs 120 per kg, are now trading at Rs 50 to Rs 65 per kg. Similarly, onion prices have declined to around Rs 12 per kg from an earlier Rs 18 to Rs 20," Khurana said, adding that the price of several herbs imported from Afghanistan has also decreased. Previously, consignments were routed from Afghanistan to Dubai and then shipped to India through major hubs like Mundra Port in Gujarat and Nhava Sheva Port in Maharashtra. However, Khurana said that while a few smaller Iranian ports remain operational, exporting through them has become increasingly risky amid regional uncertainty. Varun Nevatia, vice-president, Federation of Kirana and Dry Fruit Commercial Association, stated that trade with Afghanistan was already hampered after Pakistan denied transit access to Afghan trucks during Operation Sindoor. He pointed out that the situation has since worsened, with regional tensions and Iranian strikes affecting Dubai's logistics. Industry estimates suggest that Amritsar traditionally handled 35–40% of India's imported dry fruit trade via the Afghanistan route, with annual volumes between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 crore. However, trade through this corridor has declined by over 50–60%, forcing importers to shift to alternative routes at significantly higher costs, Nevatia said. He added that prices for dry fruits sourced from these regions have already surged by over 20%. Nevatia cautioned that if these war-like conditions persist, the market could face a sharp escalation in prices, placing further pressure on both traders and consumers. MSID:: 129652988 413 |