Buffalo meat exports grind to a halt in three key markets over coronavirus

Shipments made recently stuck in ports, causing huge demurrage payouts; Exporters fear payment defaults running into millions of dollars

Buffalo meat exports have come to standstill after Malaysia, Vietnam and Turkey, the three major destinations of India’s shipments, stopped placing any orders. This is the worst-ever crisis for exporters of animal meat and casing following coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic there. Buffalo meat has been largest export item in agro-commodity basket since 2013-14.

Since the coronavirus outbreak was detected January in China, Indian exporters have received no fresh orders from Asian and middle-eastern countries, which cumulatively account for nearly 65 per cent of India’s total buffalo meat shipments, directly or indirectly. With coronavirus gradually spilling over to China’s trade partner nations