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The Taliban takeover of Afghanistan has led to a surge in the prices of commodities imported by India. With the end of trade between countries, several varieties of dried fruits and spices are scarce and prices have skyrocketed before the holiday season.
Indian dried fruit traders are in shock at the rise in prices of dried fruits of up to 30 to 70% within a few weeks of the holiday season.
“Many of these items that we import from Afghanistan are not available anywhere else and even if they are, they would be imported at a cost, as we are able to import duty free within the Zone. South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA) so far. Said Vijay Kumar Bhuta, President of the Dry Fruit Traders Association.
The purchase of dry goods such as almonds, figs, apricots, saffron, raisins and pistachios takes place over the next few months of the festival, from Dusshera through to the Hindu festival of Diwali in November.
Squeeze the Afghan spices
Ajay Sahai, chief executive of the Federation of Indian Export Organizations, the highest body of India’s export promotion councils, said that since the Taliban took control of Kabul on August 15, trade has been at a premium. neutral point.
“We are keeping an eye on developments in Afghanistan. Imports from there pass through Pakistan’s transit route. For now, the Taliban have stopped the movement of goods to Pakistan, so imports have practically stopped, ”Sahai said.
“With the lack of new stock, suppliers are selling the old stock at higher rates and have even doubled (the rates), taking advantage of the increased demand in the festival season,” Raminder Singh, a wholesaler.
“The prices of all Afghan dried fruits have increased by at least Rs 300-500 / kg (5 euros),” Manoj Singh, another South Indian reseller, told RFI.
Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry claim the country is the largest market for Afghan products in the entire South Asian region.
“We hope prices stabilize but there is no clarity yet on how and when the situation will improve,” said a senior trade official.
Second largest importer
Usually, imports from Afghanistan reach India via the Iranian port of Chabahar by sea route, then shipments pass through Attari’s integrated border checkpoint with Pakistan.
According to the World Trade Organization (WTO) trade profiles for 2020, agricultural products represent more than 65% of Afghan exports. Dried fruits are among its most exported agricultural products. India is the second destination for the country’s exports, accounting for a share of 40.6% in 2018.
According to industry estimates, Indian imports represent around US $ 1.4 billion (€ 1.19 billion) annually and up to 85 percent of dried fruit comes from Afghanistan.
Traders have contacted the government, hoping for a speedy resolution to the trade route shutdown.
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