



Rice exporters to meet Apeda as Gulf tensions threaten $6 billion basmati trade
New Delhi: Basmati rice exporters will meet officials of the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (Apeda) this week to assess the fallout of escalating tensions in West Asia, as shipping disruptions and rising freight and insurance costs threaten India’s nearly $6 billion basmati trade in FY25, as per people in the know.The move comes amid growing uncertainty over consignments bound for the Gulf region, which accounts for nearly 60-70% of India’s basmati exports. Exporters said that while the immediate damage is still being assessed, several shipments are either stuck in transit or held up at ports, raising concerns over delayed payments and contractual risks if the conflict is prolonged.“Exports have come to a standstill in some corridors.
Even the Afghanistan market is affected, with consignments currently in standstill mode,” said Pankaj Goel, vice president of All India Rice Exporters Association (Airea). He added that Iranian importers had placed large orders in the two months preceding the outbreak of hostilities, increasing exposure for Indian exporters.Satish Goel, Airea president, said that the organization is assessing the impact as some consignments were in transit while others were stuck at select ports.
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