1,000 containers stuck in Dubai, Maharashtra exporters face heavy losses in Iran war

Disruptions at Dubai's Jebel Ali port have caused significant financial losses for exporters and farmers in Maharashtra, with agricultural shipments stranded and supply chains severely disrupted amid the ongoing conflict.

Exporters and farmers from Maharashtra are facing heavy financial losses after nearly 800 to 1,000 containers carrying agricultural produce were stranded at Dubai’s Jebel Ali port due to disruptions triggered by the ongoing US-Iran war.

Jebel Ali, one of the largest ports in the Middle East, serves as a major hub for importing agricultural commodities and distributing them across Gulf countries. However, port operations have remained halted since the conflict began on February 28, leaving hundreds of containers unloaded.

Traders said containers that had already reached Dubai, along with those that departed from India before the attack, are now stuck. The shipments mainly carry bananas, grapes, pomegranates, watermelons, leafy vegetables and onions exported from Maharashtra.

Demand for fruits such as grapes, pomegranates, bananas, dragon fruit and watermelons typically surges in Gulf countries during Ramadan, and farmers plan their harvest around this seasonal demand. However, the ongoing conflict has severely disrupted exports this year.

The disruption has particularly affected the grape trade. Nearly 5,000 to 6,000 tonnes of grapes lying at ports are expected to be impacted, while another 10,000 tonnes of export-quality grapes still in orchards may now have to be sold in the domestic market at lower prices.

At the Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNPT) near Mumbai, about 80 containers of grapes bound for Dubai remain unloaded, while more than 200 containers dispatched from Nashik have been halted outside the port, leading to major congestion. The details were shared by Vikas Singh, Vice-President of the Horticulture Produce Exporters Association.