The ongoing tensions between the United States, Israel and Iran have begun impacting Indian exports, with more than 2,300 containers carrying perishable and staple commodities stranded at key ports.
At Jawaharlal Nehru Port, over 300 containers loaded with frozen food and other perishable items have been stuck since Saturday noon (February 28), sources told CNBC-TV18. The shipments, destined for Dubai, Iran, Kuwait, Sharjah and Doha, include grapes, onions, fresh fruits and vegetables, along with frozen food products.
Exporters have expressed serious concern over potential losses due to delays, particularly given the perishable nature of the cargo.
Govind Singh, a Custom House Agent, said, “My 15–20 containers carrying products worth ₹3–4 crore have been stuck at JNPT since yesterday.”
Staple commodity exporters are also closely monitoring the situation. Satish Goyal, President of the All India Rice Exporters Association, confirmed that rice consignments are affected but said the exact number of stuck containers is still being assessed.
India exports both Basmati and non-Basmati rice to several Gulf countries, including Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Jordan, Qatar and Oman. Nearly 80% of India’s Basmati rice exports are shipped to the Gulf region, with Iran alone accounting for around 35% of total Basmati exports.
Meanwhile, the situation is more severe at Mundra Port, where around 2,000 containers — largely rice cargo — are currently stranded. According to sources, a vessel scheduled to arrive on February 26 was already delayed. By the time its revised arrival date of February 28 approached, the Iran conflict had escalated, compounding the disruption.
The dual impact of geopolitical tensions and vessel delays has left exporters grappling with uncertainty, rising logistical costs and potential financial losses. Industry stakeholders warn that prolonged instability in West Asia could significantly disrupt trade flows, especially for commodities heavily dependent on Gulf markets.
