West Asia Conflict Hits India's Exports and Imports

The ongoing conflict in West Asia is disrupting India's export and import chains, straining sectors from pharmaceuticals to food processing and agriculture, officials and traders reported on Saturday. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal highlighted initial impacts on supply lines during a press conference in Hyderabad, while exporters in regions like Rajasthan's Bikaner and Punjab voiced concerns over delays, rising costs, and stranded shipments.

Agarwal, speaking after a pharmaceutical industry event, noted that the region accounts for 12 to 13 percent of India's pharmaceutical exports, a key market for the sector. Disruptions have already affected the availability of critical intermediates and solvents last month, with broader effects on energy imports that underpin manufacturing. "Because of the West Asia crisis, there was definitely an impact last month on both imports and exports, as energy is a major part of the Indian import market," Agarwal said. He added that prolonged tensions could ripple to exports elsewhere if global value chains shift, though the full extent will clarify with March data released around April 15.

In Rajasthan's Bikaner, a hub for namkeen production,...