Kochi pista dealers welcome import duty reduction

KOCHI: The reduction in import duty of pista has been welcomed by the dealers in the Kochi market. The dealers in the state get their supplies from the markets in the metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai.

Salahudheen, partner, NKP Sons, a wholesale dealer of dry fruits in the city market said that the duty reduction would bring down the prices. “Currently we sell salted pista (with shell) at a price ranging from Rs 600 to Rs 700 per kg”, he said. For plain pista the price is as high as Rs 1000 per kg.

The reduction in customs duty would be beneficial for the consumers especially because pista has a local sales tax of 12.5 % along with badam. For other dry fruits like cashew it is only 4%. The bakeries in the state buy the product from the wholesale market in kochi.