Iranian Apple Shortage Sends Indian Prices Soaring During Ramadan Season
The Indian fruit market is experiencing significant turbulence as a severe shortage of Iranian apples has triggered substantial price increases across wholesale markets. This supply disruption comes at a particularly challenging time, coinciding with the upcoming Ramadan period when fruit consumption traditionally surges among consumers.
Political Unrest and Environmental Factors Create Perfect Storm
Nationwide anti-government protests in Iran since late December 2025 have severely disrupted India's apple supply chain, leading to a dramatic decline in imports from one of India's key apple suppliers. The political instability has been compounded by environmental challenges affecting apple production in multiple regions.
According to Satyajit Zende, Director of Shri Gurudevdatta Agency, apple crops in producing regions like Turkey have yielded significantly less this season. Additionally, inadequate snowfall in key cultivating countries has further stunted harvests, creating a multi-faceted crisis affecting global apple supplies.
Market Impact and Price Surge
The impact is most visible at Pune's Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) in Gultekdi Market Yard, where traders report that Iranian apples have become increasingly scarce. Weekly arrivals have plummeted dramatically from 8,000 to 10,000 crates to a mere 4,000 to 4,500 crates.
This severe shortage has resulted in a price surge of ₹150 to ₹200 per 10 kg across wholesale markets. Currently, Iranian apples are selling at ₹1,350 to ₹1,500 per 10 kg in wholesale markets, while Afghan apples are priced at ₹900 to ₹1,000 per 10 kg. As Iranian supplies have dried up, Afghan apple prices have risen sharply as well, narrowing the traditional price gap between these two varieties.
Import Dynamics and Duty Structures
November to February represents the traditional season when Iranian apples are imported to India, making the current shortage particularly impactful. Iranian apples have historically enjoyed strong demand in India due to their good quality and comparatively affordable prices.
Mayur Sapkal, Founder and CEO of Gurudatta Impex Private Limited, explains the complex import duty structure affecting different apple sources: "Afghanistan enjoys duty-free access to Indian markets, while Iran faces a substantial 51% tariff. Other major suppliers including Turkey, Poland, Chile, the USA, and South Africa all carry duties between 50% and 51%."
Limited Relief from Alternative Sources
The government's recent move to reduce import duties on New Zealand apples from 50% to 25% offers little practical respite for most consumers. Despite this tariff reduction, premium New Zealand varieties remain financially out of reach for the majority of Indian apple buyers.
As Zende explains, "New Zealand apples are undoubtedly high-quality products, but even with reduced import tax, most citizens simply cannot afford them. Ultimately, they cater primarily to elite consumer segments." He emphasized that duty relief alone cannot overcome the fundamental affordability gap that exists for most Indian consumers.
Ramadan Demand Amplifies Market Pressure
With the second week of February marking the beginning of Ramadan, a period when fruit consumption traditionally surges significantly, consumer anxiety has amplified considerably. The combination of reduced supplies and increased seasonal demand creates particularly challenging market conditions.
Domestic Production Offers Silver Lining
Despite the challenging circumstances, there is a positive development emerging from India's domestic apple production sector. Supported by advanced Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage technology, India's own apple production is gradually helping to fill the supply gap created by reduced Iranian imports.
"India has developed its own CA cold storage chambers, which support agricultural sustainability while boosting production volumes," Zende noted. Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India's two major apple-producing regions, have successfully leveraged this technology to extend their marketing seasons.
Their apples are typically released into the market around February 1, thereby providing much-needed price relief just as Ramadan demand reaches its peak. Until domestic supplies become more widely available, however, the market remains constrained, and consumers must navigate the dual pressures of limited supplies and elevated costs.
