Dry fruit prices in India have risen between 15% and 30% following the onset of the conflict between the U.S. and Iran [1].
This price surge reflects the vulnerability of India's food supply chains to geopolitical instability in West Asia. Because India relies heavily on imports for these commodities, shipping disruptions directly impact consumer costs.
Rajeev Pabreja, a representative of the Commodity Trading Corporation, said the market has seen a significant shift in logistics expenses. He said freight costs have jumped to $15,000 today compared to $500 before the conflict [1].
These escalating shipping costs have contributed to a sharp drop in the volume of goods entering the country. Pabreja said imports have declined by 20% to 25% [1].
The volatility in the West Asia region has created a bottleneck for traders. This combination of lower supply and higher transportation overheads has forced domestic prices upward, a trend that continues to affect the Indian dry-fruit market [1].
Market participants are now grappling with the reality of these increased overheads. Pabreja said dry fruit prices are up 15% to 30% since the West Asia conflict [1].
“Dry fruit prices are up 15‑30% since West Asia conflict.”
The dramatic increase in freight costs from $500 to $15,000 indicates a severe disruption in traditional shipping routes or a shift to more expensive alternative logistics. For the Indian market, a 20% to 25% drop in imports suggests that the price hike is driven not just by transport costs, but by a genuine shortage of supply, making the market highly sensitive to the duration of the US-Iran conflict.
