Last week all major shipping lines announced they would no longer be calling at Russian ports after the country invaded Ukraine.
India is at the height of its grape export season and now the country’s exporters find themselves with around 300 containers of grapes which have been halted in transit.
A prominent member of the Indian Grape Exporters Association said, "It was totally irresponsible of shipping lines to have carried the cargo after the war had started if they were not confident of delivering it and, having taken the responsibility, they should not have now transferred the liability on exporters asking for a change of destination. It is with their assurance and support that the growers have harvested fruit and the packers have packed and invested in this fruit as per the specifications, labels and documentation of the Russian clients."
Indian grapes destined for the Russian market are not required or well accepted at other destinations including the Middle East. "There are restrictions on moving the fruit to Europe as the phytosanitary requirements are different, these containers have been dumped at transhipment points and exporters have been asked to change the destination of the containers,” said the representative from the Indian Grape Exporters Association. Exporters are now in a lurch looking for new markets for this fruit."