Exports of tender coconuts from Pollachi in Tamil Nadu’s Coimbatore district have come to a near standstill over the past two months, as soaring freight rates and prolonged transit delays linked to the ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel disrupt global shipping routes. Traders say the sharp escalation in logistics costs, coupled with uncertainty over delivery schedules, has made exports commercially unviable. As a result, several consignments have been cancelled despite sustained demand from overseas buyers, who are increasingly cautious amid volatile supply chain conditions. The crisis has been compounded by widespread disruptions across global maritime corridors. Transit through the Suez Canal has slowed significantly, while vessels are being rerouted along longer paths, pushing delivery timelines for European destinations to nearly a month.
