Chandigarh, July 30 -- Basmati exporters in Punjab and Haryana, already grappling with disrupted shipments and falling exports to the Middle East due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, are facing a fresh blow as shipping companies have imposed a "war risk surcharge" from August 1 that will significantly raise freight costs.

Shipping companies have applied a war risk surcharge of $2,500 per container on cargo bound for Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. The move follows continued disruption to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, forcing vessels to alter drop-off points and increasing operational risks.

With this decision, the cost of moving a single container has...