Border tensions spark a pantry rush

Residents of border areas in Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Gujarat have started stocking up essentials, fearing disruption in supplies with the India-Pakistan tensions escalating in the past three days, companies and traders said.

Meanwhile, Union minister for consumer affairs, food and public distribution Pralhad Joshi advised people not to fall prey to misleading reports on food stocks, assuring that the country has stocks many times higher than the normal requirement, whether it is rice, wheat, or pulses such as chana, tur, masoor, or moong. "There is absolutely no shortage, and citizens are advised not to panic or rush to the markets to purchase food grains," he wrote in a post on X.


Companies like ITC, Parle Products, Amul and AWL Agri Business are ramping up supplies of atta, pulses, edible oil, biscuits and packaged foods such instant noodles in these markets, as distributors and retailers are buying 15-20% more stock than usual to meet increased demand, industry executives said. Demand has gone up in the north-eastern border states as well.

For staples like wheat and pulses, traders have started stocking for 2-3 months instead of the usual 15-30 days. Wholesale prices of imported commodities such as pulses have already increased by '1-2 per kg as traders fear supply disruptions, industry executives said.

"We have seen some surge in demand in the border states, especially in Punjab for fresh and packaged items. People are making advance purchases of essential items," said Jayen Mehta, MD, Amul. He said consumers should not panic as the company has capabilities to provide milk round the clock.

AWL Agri Business, India's largest packaged edible oil manufacturer, has 15 warehouses in North from where it can easily move stock to other places if there are shortages, said chief executive Angshu Mallick. Parle Products vice president Mayank Shah said there is almost 15% increased order from distributors from the border states, especially the markets close to the borders, for its products like biscuits. "Distributors are saying consumers are stocking up fearing disruption in supplies in case the tension further escalates," he said.

In his post, minister Joshi warned that anyone indulging in hoarding or stockpiling would be prosecuted under the Essential Commodities Act. He asked traders, wholesalers, retailers or business entities which engage in the trading of essential commodities to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

In Chandigarh, the administration on Friday issued an order prohibiting hoarding of essential commodities like food items and fuel by retailers, traders, wholesalers and business entities, since there is an "artificial scarcity, abnormal price rise and potential law and order issues."

After India's Operation Sindoor striking terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on May 7, Islamabad attempted to engage a number of military targets in northern and western India in past two days, including in Srinagar, Jammu, Pathankot, Amritsar, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Ludhiana, Bhatinda, Chandigarh and Bhuj using drones and missiles, as per a defence ministry release.

While India neutralised these attempts, the development has affected normal life in these places, pushing people to stock up. Some of the pantry buying is also fuelled by unscrupulous social media posts which appeal to stock up on daily essentials such as food, medicines and cash.

"There is huge demand for staples like atta and suji from the affected places. Usually, people buy one 5 kg or 10 kg pack of atta, but now they are buying 2-3 packs," said Navneet Chitlangia, president of the Roller Flour Millers Federation of India.

A senior executive of a leading food and grocery retail chain said panic buying is also happening in north-eastern states.



( Originally published on May 09, 2025 )