The escalating geopolitical friction near the Strait of Hormuz has severely disrupted trade corridors, completely halting the export of premium Indian basmati rice and orthodox teas to West Asia. Tens of thousands of tonnes of export-bound basmati rice remain stranded at Kandla Port, causing cumulative exports to drop by roughly 24% over recent months as major buyers like Iran and Iraq pull back drastically. To bypass these choked channels, exporters are attempting to pivot toward alternative routes through Jordan and Oman, but they are facing massive financial pressure due to container shipping rates from Mundra port skyrocketing from a baseline of $400 up to unprecedented highs of $3,000 to $5,000 per container.