Stranded export containers at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday, March 3. PTIWith the conflict in West Asia entering its sixth day, Indian exporters are increasingly facing uncertainty over payments from importers in the Gulf region and rising demurrage charges amid growing numbers of West Asia-bound containers being stuck at Indian ports, The Indian Express has learnt. The disruption in trade has particularly affected rice shipments as the Gulf is one of the largest importers of Indian basmati rice, and shipments to West Asia typically rise during Ramadan. Saudi Arabia, Iraq, the UAE and Iran are among the largest importers of Indian rice.The extent of the disruptionVarious rice exporters estimated that about 2-4 lakh tonnes of rice are stuck at various nodes of the supply chain, and that there is a key meeting with the Commerce and Industry Ministry on Friday, after which some decisions could be taken to ease the challenges that the exporters are facing.“Over 3000 rice containers are stuck at Indian ports. The shipments are stuck in three nodes: at Indian ports, in transit and at the destination port. Exporters have limited options available, and we have sought several support measures from the government, including the waiver of port charges,” Dev Garg, Vice President of the Indian Rice Exporters Federation (IREF), told The Indian Express.Also Read | War in West Asia: Why basmati rice exporters from Punjab and Haryana are in crisis“We have asked the authority for changes in various regulations that could help us call back our shipments. Exporters who have networks elsewhere, such as in North America, are trying to reroute their products. As far as demurrage charges are concerned, there is little clarity as to when the situation will ease, and therefore, estimating waivers for demurrage charges is a challenge, Garg said.Earlier, Satish Goel, president of the All India Rice Exporters’ Association (AIREA), told this paper that about 2 lakh tonnes of basmati are stuck at Indian ports. Goel said that India exports nearly 60 lakh tonnes of basmati, out of which nearly 40 lakh tonnes go to the Gulf region.Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said that a consultation meeting was held with all stakeholder Ministries on Tuesday with key logistics and trade facilitation partners to review the emerging geopolitical situation and its potential impact on India’s Exports and Imports.Story continues below this ad“In this context, the ‘Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) for Supply Chain Resilience’ has been created, comprising members from Department of Financial Services, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Shipping, Ports & Waterways, Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas and Central Board of Indirect Taxes & Customs, to facilitate effective coordination, monitoring and follow-up,” Goyal as per a statement.The impactDevelopments in Iran and the United Arab Emirates can have an immediate impact on bunker (ship fuel) prices and, if oil prices rise, may also disrupt container and bulk vessel availability, the federation said, adding that in such circumstances, container and bulk freight could increase sharply at short notice, exposing exporters to losses on fixed delivered-price contracts.“The situation may also lead to a steep increase in insurance premiums. Exporters are also advised to exercise restraint while concluding new orders and to avoid open-ended, unhedged positions. India’s rice trade with Africa and the Middle East together accounts for roughly half of the national rice exports. During April–December 2025, exports to the Middle East totalled 3.90 million MT and to Africa 7.16 million MT,” IREF said.Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, specializing in economic policy and financial regulations. With over five years of experience in business journalism, he provides critical coverage of the frameworks that govern India's commercial landscape. Expertise & Focus Areas: Mishra’s reporting concentrates on the intersection of government policy and market operations. His core beats include: Trade & Commerce: Analysis of India's import-export trends, trade agreements, and commercial policies. Banking & Finance: Covering regulatory changes and policy decisions affecting the banking sector. Professional Experience: Prior to joining The Indian Express, Mishra built a robust portfolio working with some of India's leading financial news organizations. His background includes tenures at: Mint CNBC-TV18 This diverse experience across both print and broadcast media has equipped him with a holistic understanding of financial storytelling and news cycles. Find all stories by Ravi Dutta Mishra here ... Read More © The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Explained EconomicsExpress Explained