Mumbai: Dry fruit prices rise as Afghan exports come to a halt – Times of India

MUMBAI: The wholesale price of dry fruit at the APMC market in Vashi has increased by 10-15 per cent as exports from trouble-torn Afghanistan have ground to a halt. Mumbai’s traders are holding on to existing stocks, knowing they may have to make them last till fresh shipments arrive from that country and supply normalises.
September, in fact, is when the new dry fruit season begins. India imports the bulk of best quality dried figs (anjeer) and apricots (zardaloo) from that country as well as a lesser quantity of small almonds, walnuts, pine nuts, green and black raisins, black cumin (shah zeera) and asafoetida (hing).
Dry fruit and spice sellers say prices could escalate further by Diwali if a new Afghan government is not formed in time, and trade resumes. The best anjeer and apricots come from Afghanistan.
APMC director Vijay Bhuta, also president of the Dry Fruit Merchants Association, said, “Already a 10-15 per cent increase is visible in wholesale rates. And another hike of 15-20 per cent is inevitable unless fresh stocks arrive soon. Indo-Afghan trade processes have stopped completely in both countries. The Indian government is yet to award recognition to the Taliban regime, so the quick resumption of bilateral trade appears difficult.”
He says that India had granted MFN (most favoured nation) status to Afghanistan which meant no import duty was levied on items like dry fruit. Now, the MFN status comes under a cloud so future duty is also a concern.
Meanwhile, in certain localities like Bandra and Malad, customers are paying Rs 100-200 more per kilo already.
Mehul Gala of Gala Dry Fruit, Malad, said, “Anjeer which was priced at Rs 1,100-1,200 now costs Rs 1,300-1,400. Apricots which sold for Rs 350-400 per kg now cost Rs 600-650. Afghani kishmish or raisins earlier sold for Rs 600, now they have risen to Rs 750-800. But more than price, I am anxious that we are not getting the quality we seek. Either wholesaler are not releasing their existing stock, or they are genuinely not receiving fresh dry fruit. I hope fresh shipments arrive before the festive season.”
Elsewhere at Royal Dry Fruit in Crawford Market and Beautiful Store near Highland Park, Lokhandwala Complex, Afghan dry fruit rates remain unchanged as suppliers are yet to exhaust their existing stock.
Gala and Bhuta both point out that Californian almonds are costlier too. Supply is short owing to the wildfires that have devastated that American state.