Written by Swasti Jain
Nationwide anti-government protests in Iran since late December 2025 have affected India’s apple supply chain with a shortage in Iranian apples, triggering a decline in imports and a hike in prices.
The impact is most visible at Pune’s Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC), Gultekdi Market Yard. Traders claim that Iranian apples have become scarce. Weekly arrivals have plummeted from 8,000 to 10,000 crates to a mere 4,000 to 4,500 crates. The shortage came with a price surge of ₹150 to ₹200 per 10 kg across the wholesale market. November to February is the season when Iranian apples are imported to India.
“In the wholesale market, Iranian apples are currently selling at ₹1,350 to ₹1,500 per 10 kg, while Afghan apples are at ₹900 to ₹1,000 per 10 kg,” said Satyajit Zende, Director of Shri Gurudevdatta Agency. As Iranian supplies have dried up, Afghan apple prices have risen just as sharply, narrowing the gap between the two. The government’s recent move to reduce import duties on New Zealand apples from 50% to 25% offers little respite. Despite the tariff reduction, premium New Zealand varieties remain out of reach for most Indian consumers.
As Zende explains, “New Zealand apples are high-quality, but even with reduced import tax, most citizens won’t buy them. Ultimately, they cater only to the elite classes.” He stressed that duty relief cannot overcome the fundamental affordability gap. Iranian apples have always been in demand in India due to their good quality and comparatively low prices.
Environmental factors have compounded the crisis. Zende noted that apple crops in producing regions like Turkey have yielded less this season, while inadequate snowfall in key cultivating countries has stunted harvests.
Mayur Sapkal, Founder and CEO of Gurudatta Impex Private Limited, lays down the import duty structure, “Afghanistan has duty-free access to Indian markets. Iran faces a 51% tariff. Turkey, Poland, Chile, the USA, and South Africa all carry duties between 50% and 51%.”
Story continues below this ad
With the second week of February marking the beginning of Ramadan, a period when fruit consumption traditionally surges, the unease amongst the consumers has amplified. Yet, there is a silver lining. India’s own apple production, supported by Controlled Atmosphere (CA) cold storage technology, is gradually filling the gap. “India has its own CA cold storage chambers, which support sustainability and boost production volumes,” Zende said. Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh, India’s two major apple-producing regions, have successfully leveraged CA technology. Their apples are typically released into the market around February 1, thereby providing price relief just as Ramadan demand peaks. Until then, the market remains tightened, and consumers must navigate the dual pressures of limited supplies and high costs.
Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
