New Delhi, March 30 -- Amid disruptions to India's basmati rice exports due to the West Asia war, the ports, shipping and waterways ministry will soon meet major shipping lines to address rising freight rates, container shortages, and supply chain bottlenecks.

According to exporters, freight rates have surged as the West Asia conflict chokes key shipping routes, reflecting growing disruptions across global logistics chains.

Exports to West Asia have already come to a halt due to the ongoing war, and the rising freight cost is acting as a stumbling block in exporting to other nations.

"We had a meeting with officials of DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade), commerce ministry, Export Credit Guarantee Corporation of India, and Mini...