The war between Israel and America with Iran in West Asia is also affecting India’s import and export. The biggest impact is being seen on the import of dry fruits and export of rice. Dry fruits from Iran as well as Afghanistan are not able to reach India, due to which their prices have increased by about 25 to 30%.
Wedding season is also starting from April 19, due to which the demand for dry fruits will increase and the prices may increase further by about 10 to 15%. According to Sunny, a big businessman of Khari Baoli, Delhi’s biggest dry fruit market, the prices of Mamra almonds, pistachios, pistachio magaj, figs, asafoetida, dates and almonds coming from Iran have increased by 25%. There has also been an increase of 10 to 15% in Munakka, Dates, Irani Ring, Apricot and Shahjeera. Dry fruits coming from Iran and Dubai are either stuck on the way or have not been able to get out from there and are dumped at the port itself. Due to this, traders of Delhi and exporters of Iran are suffering huge losses.
Almonds and pistachios are available for this much rupees
At present, almonds are being sold in Delhi at Rs 1240, pistachios at Rs 1500, figs at Rs 1600, asafoetida at Rs 6000 and apricots at Rs 800 per kg. The prices of all these have already increased by 10 to 15%. At the same time, after the beginning of the wedding season from April 19, the prices are expected to increase further by 10 to 15%. This means that households where there is a wedding will have to bear the extra burden of buying dry fruits. Due to closure of the Strait of Hormuz, dry fruits are not able to reach Delhi, due to which traders are incurring losses worth crores of rupees.
Rice export has also been affected
While talking to TV9, dry fruit trader Sunny said that along with imports, India’s rice exports have also been affected by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. India is the world’s largest rice exporter. Sela rice and Basmati rice are exported the most to Iran. But due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the export of rice has reduced by 30 to 35%. Actually, different types of Basmati rice are sent from many states of India to Gulf countries. Rice exports have been affected for the last one month. Due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, efforts are now being made to send rice through alternative routes, due to which the freight and cost have increased by 4 times.
Hormuz Strait is becoming a crisis
Naresh Gupta, President of Delhi Grain Merchant Association, says that most of the containers were sent from ships bound for Europe and America, which are not able to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. A London company has also stopped rice insurance, due to which the risk has increased further. Some traders are delivering rice to Gulf countries by road via Oman, due to which the cost has increased by up to 4 times. This is the reason why rice exports have been affected by about 30 to 35%.
Naresh Gupta told that according to rice exporter Mohit, the containers are filled with rice, but it is not able to go abroad, due to which there is a loss of crores of rupees. Big traders are sending goods through different routes by paying expensive freight, but small traders, who used to send only two-four containers in a month, are facing the biggest loss. Now it remains to be seen how long this war lasts and how deep its impact is on India’s import and export. At present traders seem quite worried.
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