Red Sea Crisis Threatens Kerala's Ramadan Fruit Imports

The fruit imports to Kerala have been severely impacted by the Red Sea crisis and surcharges imposed by shipping lines for rerouting vessels. Normally, fruit imports to Kerala take 15-20 days, but due to the crisis, it now takes 30-45 days, causing frustration among traders. Kerala imports around 500 containers of fruits monthly, including varieties of apples and citrus fruits.

The crisis has led to the diversion of ships via the Cape of Good Hope, resulting in various surcharges imposed by shipping lines. The surcharge, amounting to $4000 per container, has hit the trade hard, potentially leading to subdued demand as consumers may have to bear the cost. Additionally, there is a shortage of ships and containers, further complicating the situation.

European shipping lines, which bring fruits from countries like Italy, Poland, Turkey, and Egypt to Kerala, are the most affected. The opening of the US market has also increased fruit volumes in Kerala. The crisis has forced shipping lines to drop cargo at Mumbai port, adding an extra financial burden to transport the cargo to Kochi.

Fruit prices have surged due to shipping surcharges, with Egypt oranges increasing from $8 to $12 for a 15 kg box and Turkey apple prices rising from $19 to $25 per box. Traders are concerned about potential damage to perishable goods and the additional costs incurred by consumers.

Despite the challenges, fruit consumption in Kerala has been on the rise due to increased awareness of healthy diets. However, traders fear that transit delays might impact fruit demand during the upcoming Ramadan fasting season in March. Southern states are particularly affected by the crisis, as fruit consumption is higher in the region compared to the Northern belt.