



India's mango exporters fret as Iran war triggers shortage of refrigerated containers, increases costs
NEW DELHI: A shortage of refrigerated containers (reefers) caused by the West Asia war is worrying Indian growers of mangoes ahead of the peak export season, according to five people aware of the development.With the war in its second month, key maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, have been disrupted, leading to container shortages and higher freight costs. Many containers are stuck in transit due to congestion or are being re-routed, leading to longer shipment cycles.This poses a unique problem for India, which produces 20.68 million tonnes, or 44%, of the world's mangoes annually, the most by any country.
India has been trying to increase exports of the king of fruits vis-a-vis China, which ships out more mangoes, including Indian varieties such as Dasheri, Chausa, Alphonso and Langra.The UAE is India’s top mango export destination. The Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Qatar together account for 40-45% of India’s total mango exports.
Trade involving all these countries has been disrupted by Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.Refrigerated containers are critical for transporting perishable commodities such as mangoes, which need to be stored at temperatures of 11-18°C to maintain quality. However, delays and difficulties in repositioning containers have made it harder for Indian exporters to secure adequate capacity.Refrigerated container charges went up by about $1,000 in March.
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