The ongoing West Asia conflict has begun to significantly disrupt snack exports from Bikaner, with shipments of bhujia, papad, and spices facing delays, rising logistics costs, and container shortages, traders said.
Known as a key hub for India’s namkeen industry, Bikaner exports large volumes of traditional snacks and spices to Gulf countries and Europe. However, exporters report that the conflict has slowed container movement and forced shipping lines to take longer, safer routes, doubling transit times from around 30 days to nearly 60 days.
Industry players say the disruption has sharply increased freight charges and input costs. Edible oil prices have risen by nearly 20 per cent in the past month, directly impacting production costs. Additionally, higher petroleum prices have pushed packaging costs up by 30–40 per cent.
Exporters also highlighted that both incoming raw materials—such as palm oil and soybean—and outgoing consignments are being delayed, intensifying financial pressure on businesses. Despite strong demand for Bikaneri snacks in Arab markets, supply chain bottlenecks are leading to mounting losses.
On average, 15–20 containers of bhujia, papad, and namkeen are exported monthly from Bikaner, along with nearly 60 containers of other goods. Currently, a significant portion of this trade has slowed or stalled, with consignments worth crores stuck at ports or in transit.
The disruption comes at a critical time, as exporters typically begin preparations for the peak export season. However, uncertainty over delivery timelines and escalating logistics costs are forcing traders to reassess their strategies.
Shipments from Bikaner are primarily routed via sea to markets including Iran, Iraq, Oman, the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain, as well as European countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain.
Industry stakeholders warn that if the situation persists, it could deal a severe blow to Bikaner’s export-driven economy, which is already grappling with rising costs and delayed payments.