Container Shortage Starts to Impact Indian Exporters

24 Jan Container Shortage Starts to Impact Indian Exporters

The Indian export landscape is facing a dual challenge, with escalating freight rates and a looming equipment scarcity linked to the recent Red Sea crisis. This shortage of empty containers is becoming increasingly prominent at major container ports and hinterland locations.

Particularly affected are the ports of Nhava Sheva and Mundra, crucial hubs that collectively handle the majority of India’s containerized ocean trade. The shortage is most acute in the case of 40ft hi-cube boxes, causing disruptions that force Mumbai-based forwarders to reject bookings from regular customers due to the prevailing equipment crunch.

As the container scarcity situation unfolds, Indian exporters find themselves navigating a complex supply chain environment, amplifying concerns about meeting shipping demands.