Exporters seek support as goods to West Asia are stranded at ports

Engineering and textile exporters have sought government intervention as export goods to West Asian countries are stranded because of the war.

Pankaj Chadha, chairman, EEPC India, said the UAE is the second largest market for Indian engineering goods, next to the US. It grew almost 24 % in January this year compared with last January. UAE and Saudi Arabia are also gateways to India’s engineering exports to the WANA region. “If an exporter has contracts with buyers in Qatar, for instance, he will not ship now and will wait till the situation becomes clear,” he said. This is a developing situation and hence, the exporters are on a wait and watch mode, he said.

According to the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry, the UAE is one of the largest markets for Indian textile and apparel exporters in West Asia. In 2024, the UAE was the fourth largest market for India’s textile and apparel exports.

A. Sakthivel, chairman of Apparel Export Promotion Council, has written to the secretary of the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, seeking waiver of demurrage charges on export cargo due to flight disruptions.

The unforeseen developments have directly impacted the timely movement of export cargo from Indian airports and export consignments are currently stranded at multiple airport cargo terminals across India.

He requested the DGCA to consider issuing suitable instruction to Cargo Terminal Operators to grant waiver of demurrage charges on export consignments that could not be lifted due to flight disruptions, airspace restrictions, or related operational constraints arising from the ongoing international developments.