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As war clouds loom large over West Asia, stuck containers spell losses
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Friday, 06 March, 2026, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Ashwani Maindola, New Delhi
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As the Strait of Hormuz becomes a high-risk zone, the multi-billion dollar food trade between India and West Asia is facing an unprecedented standstill, leaving farmers and exporters in a desperate race against time.
As per reports, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT), nearly 1,000 refrigerated containers are currently stuck at the terminals. These units, packed with export-grade grapes, onions, and papayas from Maharashtra’s farm belts, require constant power to prevent spoilage. Exporters report that plug-in charges and terminal storage fees are now exceeding ?8,000 per container daily, a cost that is rapidly eroding the thin margins of the horticultural trade.
The impact on the grain sector is equally severe. Trade estimates suggest that over 400,000 metric tonnes of premium Basmati rice are currently either stuck in mid-sea transit or clogging port silos. With the Middle East consuming roughly 70% of India's Basmati exports, the closure of key ports like Dubai has effectively cut off the industry's primary artery.
The reports added that the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF) has already issued an advisory to halt new 'Cost, Insurance, and Freight' (CIF) contracts, urging a shift to 'Free on Board' (FOB) terms to shield local sellers from astronomical shipping and insurance surcharges.
While urban Indian consumers might see a temporary drop in vegetable prices as export-quality goods are diverted back to local markets, the long-term outlook for the rural economy is grim. Meanwhile, war surcharges are being imposed by shipping lines now reaching up to $4,000 per container, threatening to make Indian produce uncompetitive on the global stage.
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