Indian rice exporters have sought urgent government intervention as the Iran crisis disrupts shipping routes and logistics across West Asian trade lanes. The Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF), in a representation, has urged the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) to provide relief measures amid container shortages, vessel cancellations and sharply rising freight costs affecting shipments to the Middle East. Freight rates have reportedly surged 15-20%, while war risk insurance premiums and bunker fuel prices have climbed to about $580 per tonne from roughly $520. The disruptions have also depressed domestic basmati prices by 7-10% over the past few days, squeezing exporters’ working capital.
Exporters are seeking a waiver of port charges, such as demurrage and storage, for rolled cargo, official recognition of the situation as a force majeure event and temporary banking support, including enhanced working capital limits. The industry has also requested facilitation to redirect or return cargo already in transit to mitigate contractual and financial risks, according to a report.
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