The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has disrupted the import and export activities in Punjab, affecting dry fruits. The supply chain from Iran is particularly impacted. The closure of the trade route between India and Afghanistan via Attari following the Pahalgam incident further strains the dry fruit trade, though Iran's Bandarbas port remains operational.
The Confederation of International Chamber of Commerce representative, Rajdeep Singh Uppal, noted a "second disruption in the supply within two months" for fresh and dry fruit imports, increasing costs, particularly for dry fruits like pistachios, almonds, and others, previously sourced from Afghanistan. This disruption has led to price increases in both wholesale and retail markets.
The Chamber urges the opening of the Chabahar port to facilitate trade. An extended conflict would necessitate alternative routes, increasing transport costs. Additionally, the handicraft industry is seeing decreased orders, with Rishi Sharma noting a 70% drop in orders from Western countries due to potential U.S. involvement in the war. An existing contract with a Netanya-based firm was canceled due to the conflict.
Source: The Tribune