India: Export of perishables to be suspended from midnight

Thiruvananthapuram: Export of fresh fruits and vegetables to various destinations in West Asia from the three airports in the State will come to a standstill from midnight on Friday.

The exporters based in Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Karipur airports have resorted to this step in view of the severe financial crisis faced by them due to the steep fall in dollar value and appreciation of the rupee and spiralling prices of perishables.


No cargo bookings had been made on flights of Emirates, Kuwait Airways, Air India, Air India Express, Qatar Airways and Oman Air scheduled to depart from the capital in the wee hours of Saturday. Secretary, Agricultural Products and Processed Food Exporters Association (APPEXA), Dil Koshy, said the freight rates, which was about Rs.38-40 per kg including security and fuel surcharges for perishables, had come as a setback for exporters from the State and was unaffordable.

The Hindu