Request to impose import duty on walnuts at the rate of per kg

05-Feb-2025 06:22 PM

The dry fruits and nuts industry in India has expressed concern about the current import duties on walnuts, which are levied at 100% customs duty on imports.

The industry had hoped for a reduction in import duty in the Union Budget but is now looking forward to the Prime Minister's upcoming visit to the US as a possible opportunity for the government to take action.

The Chairman of the Nuts and Dry Fruits Council (NDFC) has requested that the import duty on walnuts be imposed on a per kg basis, instead of the current percentage-based duty.

This change is expected to provide relief to walnut producers in Kashmir, who are the main producers in India, while also strengthening India's relations with the US, one of the main walnut-exporting countries.

The Chairman also highlighted that about 98% of walnuts are produced in Jammu and Kashmir, with the remainder coming from other regions like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Arunachal Pradesh.

In response to the imbalance between domestic demand and production—where consumption has increased fivefold in the last seven years while production hasn't kept pace—the industry is urging the government to lower the import duty to Rs 125 per kg, which would be about half of the current duty.

This move is anticipated to offer relief to the domestic walnut producers, who are struggling to meet rising consumer demand.