24

Mar

Trade with U.S: India  Wants AI  Gets Almonds

image

A person wearing glasses and a suit AI-generated content may be incorrect.In its trade and tariff  offensive the US administration of President Donald Trump has launched an almond and apple war on India to boost  its farm exports 

While India is interested in high-tech and high-volume trade with the United States certain import items like dry fruits,  have surged by a remarkable 93 per cent but have largely gone unnoticed .

India’s concerns about trade and tariffs with the US have grown as rising imports from the US are impacting various sectors of the Indian economy. The trade relationship between the two countries has become increasingly complex, especially after the US imposed tariffs on products like steel and aluminium. India has expressed worries over the potential long-term impact of these tariffs, which could hinder the growth of its manufacturing sectors and disrupt its trade balance.

None, however, had expected that the U.S. would replace  neighbouring Afghanistan  or  Iran, prime supplier of nuts, with its low oil-content and nutrient almonds, walnuts or pistachios. The fad for larger sized nuts has caught  the fancy of Indian health-conscious buyers aided by low Indian tariffs. The US is virtually acting as China in this area.

 

Column at a Glance
The Trump administration has intensified its trade offensive against India, particularly focusing on boosting US farm exports of almonds and apples. While India seeks high-tech trade with the US, imports of dry fruits have surged by 93%, raising concerns about their impact on various sectors of the Indian economy. The US has replaced traditional suppliers like Afghanistan and Iran with its lower-quality almonds, walnuts, and pistachios, appealing to health-conscious Indian consumers due to their larger size and low tariffs.
Monday Matters
By Shivaji Sarkar
In 2021, India's nut imports exceeded $1 billion, with 92.3% of almond imports and 86.7% of pistachio imports coming from the US. This growing reliance on US agricultural products, alongside limited domestic production, poses challenges for India's local industries, which face increasing competition from cheaper imports. The situation highlights the complexities of the evolving trade relationship between India and the US.

 

India’s import of nuts crossed over $ 1 billion last year. Buyers with swadeshi fad are unaware that they are consuming larger-looking lower quality product than what used to come from the neighbours.

India has been witnessing a significant increase in imports from the US, especially in sectors like agricultural products, technology, and pharmaceuticals. While these imports haven’t caused widespread alarm , their growing volume has raised questions about the future of India's domestic industries, particularly in sectors that are facing increasing competition from cheaper or subsidized imports.

Some items, about 7 to 29 per cent, are coming from Australia as well following the recent trade deals.

The import surge is commensurate with rising demand and limited indigenous production. For instance the indigenous production  of almond has been  about 4150 tonnes  during 2024 against an estimated demand of 1.9 lakh tonnes as per US agriculture department.

The Georgia-based GTRI says that almonds import by India has soared over 5.5 times since 2008. Pistachio imports went up 4,400 tonnes to 13,500 tonnes in 2021. Of total Indian almonds imports of $ 940.8 million (mn), $ 868.2 mn, or 92.3 per cent comes from the US; of total $ 141.5 mn pistachio, $ 121.2 mn is from the US (86.7 per cent) and a miniscule 8.8 per cent comes from Iran. While of the shelled pistachio of a total $ 72.2 mn,  $ 8,5 mn comes from the US and 34 per cent comes from Afghanistan; 41.1 per cent shelled walnuts come from Afghanistan and 78.5 per cent comes from Chile. Only 16.9 percent or $ 86.6 mn of total walnuts imported, $ 14.6 min emanates from the US.

**************

  • Share:

About Us

We must explain to you how all seds this mistakens idea off denouncing pleasures and praising pain was born and I will give you a completed accounts..

Contact Us

Contact Info

  • 70, Gyan Khand- 4, Indirapuram, Ghaziabad. Uttar Pradesh.
  • +91-9810533682
  • info@mediamap.co.in
  • Week Days: 09.00 to 18.00 Sunday: Closed