What if we told you that Donald Trump, global trade wars, and prawn curry are all part of the same spicy story? Welcome to the curious case of how Pune’s seafood stalls became ground zero for a delicious twist in global economics.
It all started with a tariff tantrum. In a classic Trump move, the US President jacked up import duties on Indian seafood—pushing them from 8% to a jaw-dropping 45%. The fallout? Indian exporters hit pause, prawns piled up back home, and suddenly, markets across India were swimming in seafood.
Pune, You Lucky Foodie
Here’s where it gets tasty. In Pune’s fish markets—from Kothrud to Koregaon Park—prawn prices dropped like monsoon mangoes. What once cost ₹450 per kg is now yours for ₹350 or even less. Seafood shops are buzzing, and home chefs are back in action, turning this export surplus into sizzling curries, buttery grills, and crispy fry-ups.
“I haven’t sold this many prawns in years,”
says one Kharadi-based seafood vendor, grinning like a man who just marinated success. “People are buying in kilos—not grams!”
The Recipe Behind the Headlines
So what’s cooking in Pune kitchens with this prawn windfall?
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Spicy Malvani Prawn Curry with coconut milk and kokum
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Tandoori Prawns skewered and grilled till smoky perfection
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Prawn Gassi for the coastal soul
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Or simply tossed in garlic-butter with a splash of lime—perfect for a summer dinner party
Foodies are calling it the
“prawn festival of the season”,
and we’re not disagreeing.
Food Meets Foreign Policy
Behind this feast is a tangled web of global trade drama. Trump’s tariff hike hit not just India but escalated tensions with China (125% duty), the EU (25%), and sparked counter-tariffs from nearly every corner of the globe. But while economies grumble, Indian kitchens are sizzling.
Will It Last?
Exporters warn this drop in price may not be permanent. The seafood oversupply won’t last forever, and if new markets open up or the US softens its stance, prawns might just hop back onto ships.
But for now, dear reader, this is your moment.
Light the gas. Heat the pan. Grab those prawns. Because for once, global chaos has delivered something utterly delicious to your plate.
