Dry fruit prices surge as imports from Afghanistan, Iran face disruptions
₹600 per kg to ₹1,000 per kg, premium Mamra almonds from Iran up about 25% to ₹3,500 per kg, and prunes in some cases doubling from ₹500 per kg to ₹1,000 per kg. Pistachio prices have risen from ₹2,000 per kg to ₹2,800 per kg in the past month.Overall, he said, imported dry fruit prices have increased between 15% and 100%, depending on availability and sourcing constraints.India sources a wide range of dry fruits globally, with Iran and Afghanistan among the key suppliers of pistachios, figs, raisins, apricots, dates and premium Mamra almonds.
Together, West Asia and Afghanistan account for nearly 40-45% of India’s total dry fruit imports, highlighting the sector’s exposure to the current disruption.Beyond this region, almonds and pistachios are largely imported from the US, walnuts from Chile and the US, dates from Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and cashews from West Africa, alongside domestic production. India’s total dry fruit demand is estimated at around 1.43 million tonnes annually, against domestic output of about 380,000 tonnes, implying that nearly 73–80% of consumption is met through imports.Importers are scrambling to diversify sourcing to plug supply gaps, though alternatives come with higher costs and potential quality variations.Retired colonel Nitin Sehgal, chief executive, Nuts and Dry fruits Council (India), said the US, and Georgia in Europe are key alternative sources for almonds and pistachios, while Turkey is gaining ground as a supplier of figs and hazelnuts.
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