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War in West Asia halts grape exports, strands thousands of tons at Indian Ports
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Saturday, 07 March, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Our Bureau, Mumbai
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Export of Indian grapes to key Gulf markets has come to a standstill amid escalating conflict in West Asia involving Iran, the United States and Israel, disrupting shipping routes and leaving large consignments stranded at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) and cold storages in Navi Mumbai.
Trade sources said that hundreds of containers carrying fresh table grapes destined for the Gulf — including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar — are currently stuck as international carriers suspend sailings to the region due to heightened security risks and rising freight and insurance costs. Around 1,000 refrigerated units containing perishables such as grapes, bananas and onions are reported to be stranded at the port.
Growers and exporters from Maharashtra’s key horticulture belt said the disruption could affect as much as 6,000–16,000 tonnes of export-quality grapes that were scheduled to be shipped for the Ramadan demand season. With maritime routes through the Strait of Hormuz effectively slowed and carriers avoiding Gulf corridors, exporters may be forced to divert cargo back to domestic markets — where a glut could push prices sharply lower.
According to Maharashtra Grape Growers Association if export channels remain blocked, farmers faced mounting losses as they would have to sell fruit at reduced local rates. Industry participants also warned that disruptions in air freight — with flights to Gulf destinations cancelled — are compounding the logistical bottlenecks for perishable shipments from southern India.
The crisis extending beyond grapes has hit other agricultural exports including onions and sugar, and left major shipments of Indian basmati rice stranded at ports and in transit, underlining the wider impact of geopolitical tensions on the country’s agri-export sector.
Exporters and grower groups are pressing for urgent government intervention to explore alternative routes, freight support and insurance solutions, warning that a prolonged halt in exports could severely strain farm incomes and supply chains during a critical season for horticultural trade.
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