Escalating hostilities between the United States–Israel alliance and Iran have triggered fresh anxiety among Indian exporters of fruits and vegetables, with perishable shipments to the Gulf region bearing the brunt of the disruption.
Hundreds of containers loaded with onions, grapes, bananas and other fresh produce are currently stranded at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and other Mumbai port facilities, awaiting vessel bookings or clearance as container lines suspend services to the Middle East. Around 1,000 containers are estimated to be stuck at Mumbai ports, mainly at JNPA, according to port authorities.
Shipping lines have diverted vessels via the Cape of Good Hope to avoid the conflict zone, significantly increasing transit time and freight costs while adding to congestion at Indian ports. The immediate concern, industry representatives say, is cargo piling up at gateways even as fresh consignments continue to arrive.
Sunil Vaswani, Executive Director of the Container Shipping Lines Association (India), said port personnel are working with stakeholders to manage the growing backlog. However, exporters warn that prolonged delays could sharply raise refrigeration and storage costs for temperature-sensitive cargo.
The disruption comes at a crucial time, as demand for fruits and vegetables in Gulf countries typically rises during Ramzan. Exporters report that over 150 containers of bananas, pomegranates, watermelons and onions are already held up. An estimated 200 containers may have to be diverted back to the domestic market if the stalemate continues, potentially depressing local prices and causing supply-chain losses.
Trade sources also indicated that 150 containers of grapes from Maharashtra were held up at Dubai after shipment from JNPA. More than 200 containers of bananas bound for the Middle East remain stranded at JNPA, further intensifying congestion.
Exporters say the financial burden is mounting, with daily expenses of about ₹8,500 per container while shipments remain stuck. Wholesale banana prices have already fallen from ₹25 per kg to ₹15 per kg amid the export slowdown, and traders caution that rates may decline further if the conflict persists. Onion prices in local wholesale markets, however, remain steady at ₹10–16 per kg for now.
Alphonso mango growers are also closely watching the situation, fearing that a prolonged conflict could dampen export prospects for the upcoming season.
While shipments to Europe remain largely unaffected, exporters say Gulf-bound trade has come to a near standstill, leaving India’s perishable cargo sector vulnerable to continued geopolitical uncertainty.
