Dry fruits like almonds, raisins, pistachios and others, are an intricate part of Indian culture, be it sweets, snacks or even oils. Most of these delicacies travel all the way from Kabul to New Delhi.
However, these imports are at a major risk after the closing of Attari-Wagah border due to growing tensions between India and Pakistan. Exporters have warned that this could lead to a surge in domestic prices for these commodities
Afghanistan has long been a key exporter of dry fruits to India, alongside Pakistan. According to data, India’s imports of dry fruits from Afghanistan in the 2024-25 period (April-January) amounted to $ 358 million, while its exports to Afghanistan during the same period were valued at $ 264.15 million.
Prices of dry-fruits to spike?
“Though immediate there is no impact as goods are in transit, but after ten days the imports will be stopped completely.” said Rajiv Batra, president of the Khari Baoli traders’ association in Delhi. “After that the prices would go up to 20 per cent in the national capital.”
Alternative routes
Batra also noted that while imports from Afghanistan will be severely curtailed, alternative routes through countries like the UAE, Iran, and Iraq are expected to partially replace the Afghan supply.
The land border closure, combined with Pakistan’s trade suspension, is creating major uncertainty for both the domestic market and the dry fruit supply chain. With imports likely to decline, Indian consumers can expect price hikes on these essential commodities in the near future.
The attack, which took place in Pahalgam and resulted in the deaths of 26 people, mostly tourists, prompted India to take immediate action, including halting trade through the Attari land border. This border, located near Amritsar in Punjab, is a key route for the movement of certain goods, including dry fruits from Afghanistan.
In retaliation, Pakistan suspended all trade with India, including trade to and from third countries via Pakistan. As a result, this disruption is expected to affect both exports and imports to and from Afghanistan, a major supplier of dry fruits to India.
