The traditional dry fruit box may be missing from several shopping bags this Diwali, with soaring import and transportation costs making festive favourites increasingly expensive. At Navi Mumbai’s APMC wholesale market, traders are reporting a sharp fall in festive business, with sales dropping to barely 10-15 per cent of the usual Diwali levels. 

Prices soar

The increase is particularly visible in almonds and pistachios. Almonds, which sold at around Rs 750 per kg last year, are now priced at Rs 950 per kg, an increase of Rs 200. Pistachios, available at approximately Rs 1200 per kg last year, have climbed to Rs 1500 per kg. However, the increase is not uniform across all varieties.