Industry experts say that unless normal routes reopen soon, businesses dealing in perishable goods could face significant financial losses due to rising transport costs and spoilage risks
The ongoing conflict in the Middle East is disrupting the export of flowers, fruits and vegetables from Kerala to international markets, forcing exporters to find longer and more expensive routes.
For many years, exporters relied on Gulf airports such as Dubai as major transit hubs for shipments heading to Europe, the United States and Canada. However, airspace restrictions and flight cancellations across the region have broken this vital transport link.
As a result, many shipments now have to travel through Bengaluru instead. This detour has nearly doubled freight costs and increased the risk of delays for highly perishable goods.
Businesses that supply fresh products to overseas Indian communities say the disruption is already affecting deliveries. Temple flowers such as jasmine and bael leaves that once reached London and Paris within a day are now taking longer and costing more to transport.
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Exporters say the situation has created serious uncertainty
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Some shipments are stuck at ports, airports or cargo terminals while companies try to find alternative routes
Logistics companies have also issued warnings about the disruption. Several Gulf countries have either restricted or closed their airspace, affecting both passenger flights and cargo services.
For exporters with goods already in transit, the problem is especially serious. Some companies report containers stranded at sea or waiting at ports with no clear delivery timeline.
The crisis highlights how dependent many Indian exporters are on Middle Eastern transit hubs for global trade.
