West Asia crisis filters down to local pantry: dry fruits pricier

Ludhiana: Escalating tensions in the Middle East have triggered a sharp spike in dry fruit prices, with some imported varieties tripling in cost as supply chains fracture and freight charges soar.Wholesale traders in Ludhiana warn that the market is currently buoyed by dwindling pre-conflict stocks, and they predict further price hikes once fresh, more expensive consignments attempt to navigate disrupted international trade routes. Premium varieties have been hit the hardest. The most dramatic surge has been recorded in dried plums (aaloo bukhara). The soft variety has jumped from ₹250/kg to ₹750, while the fully dried variant rose from ₹400 to ₹750.High-end imports from Iran have also seen significant volatility. Mamra giri, a premium almond variety, spiked from approximately ₹2,500/kg to ₹3,600. Similarly, Pista Pishauri surged from ₹2,200 to as high as ₹3,500/kg. "The current stock available in the market arrived before the conflict," said Naveen Aggarwal, a wholesaler at Dandi Swami Chowk. "Once these supplies run out, prices are likely to increase further."Widespread market impactThe inflationary trend is not limited to luxury items. Traders report a broad 10% increase across nearly all segments, driven by a combination of geopolitical uncertainty and rising overheads. Wholesale trader Kashish Sehgal noted the following price shifts. The price of Gurbandi almonds increased from ₹960 to ₹1,140/kg. The price of anjeer (figs) rose from ₹900 to 1,100/kg. California almonds' suppliers are quoting higher rates due to increased global freight costs.Supply chain bottlenecksBeyond the direct impact of the conflict on trade routes, merchants are grappling with secondary costs. Lavi Singh, a wholesaler at Lakkar Bazaar, noted that while a slight "off-season" in demand has prevented even steeper climbs, the price of anjeer has still risen by nearly ₹300/kg. In the Kesar Ganj Mandi, trader Ashwani Kumar highlighted that Iranian pistachios, particularly the Pista Dodi variety, have climbed from ₹900 to ₹1,300/kg.Looming consumer crisisTraders and residents expressed concern that if the situation does not normalize, nuts and dry fruits—staples of Indian weddings, gifting traditions, and festivals — will become unaffordable for the average consumer. In addition to procurement challenges, wholesalers pointed to the rising costs of packaging materials, labor, and domestic transport as factors that will continue to squeeze margins and drive up retail prices in the coming months.