Ongoing Unrest in Iran Worries Dry Fruit Traders
15-Jan-2026 09:27 PM
New Delhi: The US administration has said that a 25 percent additional tariff will be imposed on products from countries that trade with Iran. Earlier, the US had threatened to impose a 500 percent tariff on products from countries trading with Russia. India has significant trade relations with both these countries.
Indian products already face a 50 percent import duty in the US, and if these two additional tariffs are also implemented, the total effective tariff level could rise to 575 percent, potentially bringing exports of most Indian products to the US to a complete halt.
However, Indian importers of fresh fruits may not face much difficulty if trade with Iran is disrupted, as they can continue importing apples, cherries, and kiwis from other countries. But the dry fruit industry could be significantly affected.
According to the Delhi-based Fresh Fruits Importers Association, there is no cause for concern as long as trade is permitted and the government does not impose any restrictions, but the situation could become serious if transportation (imports) are disrupted. It is understood that the Indian government may also take some steps in response to the US tariffs.
Currently, import-export through Iran's Chabahar port has been suspended, so trade is being conducted through Bandar Abbas port.
Sources indicate that Indian fresh fruit exports are being managed to some extent by companies that are able to arrange payments from Iranian partners through some kind of barter system.
However, the dry fruit sector could be deeply impacted by the tariffs. According to the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (India), not only is there chaos and unrest in Iran, but its economic situation has also become very weak, causing immense difficulties for producers and exporters of dry fruits,
especially pistachios, dates, saffron, almonds, and raisins. Imports of these products from Iran to India could be disrupted. If the Indian government decides to stop trading with Iran, the direct import of the aforementioned dry fruits from that country could come to a halt. However, no such decision has been made yet.