Chilgoza Prices Crash: From ₨10,000 to ₨3,000 What’s Behind the Massive Drop?

Chilgoza, one of Pakistan’s most valued dry fruits, has seen a stunning price drop this season. In areas like Lower South Waziristan, the price has plummeted from last year’s ₨10,000 per kilogram to as low as ₨3,000 per kilogram.

The crash has shocked growers, traders, and consumers. Many families that rely on chilgoza for their annual income now face serious financial challenges.

Here’s an overview of what caused this collapse and why its effects might last beyond this season.

What Caused the Price Crash?

1. Record-High Production and Oversupply

This season, chilgoza harvests have increased significantly. Reports indicate that yields have nearly tripled compared to previous years.

With so much supply flooding the market, prices have inevitably fallen. More product than demand leads to lower prices.

2. Decline in Domestic and International Demand

Traders mention that demand has weakened both in Pakistan and abroad. Fewer export orders from Gulf and East Asian markets have lowered the overall value.

In some districts of Balochistan, chilgoza reportedly sold for as little as ₨3,000 to ₨5,000 per kilogram this season.

3. Logistic and Regulatory Disruptions

Delays and issues during transportation have dealt another blow. Traders say that consignments often get halted in major cities like Lahore or Rawalpindi. Customs and police checks, along with paperwork reviews and delays, are common.

Because chilgoza is delicate and perishable, even small delays can compromise quality, drastically reducing freshness and market value.

4. Storage and Cold-Chain Issues

In some production areas, the lack of proper cold-storage facilities has forced traders to sell quickly at lower prices instead of waiting for demand to improve.

5. Global Market and Economic Pressures

Global market uncertainties, changing demand patterns, and possibly reduced spending on premium dry fruits have made chilgoza less appealing to foreign buyers. This situation puts additional downward pressure on prices.

What the Crash Means for Stakeholders

Growers and Rural Families: Many rely on chilgoza harvesting for seasonal income. The price drop could cut earnings by up to two-thirds and threaten their livelihoods.

Traders and Middlemen: With lower profits and more transport challenges, many might leave the business. This could shrink supply channels and harm future harvests.

Consumers: On the positive side, chilgoza has become much cheaper. However, poor quality or inconsistent supply might arise if growers exit the trade.

Export Markets: The decline could harm Pakistan’s reputation as a reliable source of high-quality chilgoza, affecting long-term export potential.

Why This Crash Is Bigger Than a Seasonal Dip

This situation is not just a typical price fluctuation. Several underlying problems are contributing:

• The crash resulted from not just one bad harvest but from an oversupply, a drop in demand, and ongoing logistical failures.

• The involvement of regulatory bodies (customs and police) in transportation creates barriers between growers and markets, hurting the whole supply chain.

• Insufficient infrastructure, such as cold storage and quality control, worsens losses when supply is high.

• Volatility in global demand and changes in consumer habits make depending on export markets riskier than ever.

• Unless government, traders, and exporters take action, the crash could lead to long-lasting harm: reduced production, loss of livelihoods, and exit from the chilgoza trade.

What Needs to Be Done to Stabilize the Market

• Simplify transport and customs processes. Reducing unnecessary stops and delays is essential for maintaining quality.

• Invest in cold-storage and better logistics infrastructure to avoid forcing producers to sell at low prices immediately after harvest.

• Support marketing and export channels to boost demand, both domestically and internationally.

• Provide relief or alternative livelihood support to growers who faced losses this season.

• Consider regulating or setting minimum prices to protect growers from severe market fluctuations.

Conclusion: A Boom Gone Bust, But It’s Not Too Late

The 2025 chilgoza price crash highlights that in agriculture and commodity markets, plenty doesn’t always equal profit. Oversupply, weak demand, and systemic inefficiencies have turned what should have been a successful season into a crisis for many.

However, with careful intervention, better logistics, and renewed export efforts, there’s still an opportunity to revitalize the sector. The decrease from ₨10,000 to ₨3,000 per kilogram isn’t just a market statistic. It’s a crisis for thousands of families and a call to action for stakeholders before the next harvest arrives.