India's Major Ports See Significant Capacity Rise Amidst Container Challenges

There is no acute shortage of containers for India's maritime trade, Ports Minister Sarbananda Sonowal informed the Rajya Sabha. The Directorate General of Shipping is promoting the ownership and operation of containers by Indian entities as a long-term solution. Significant challenges arose from the Red Sea crisis, which diverted ships causing delays and higher costs.

India's maritime trade is not facing an acute shortage of containers, according to Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. Speaking in the Rajya Sabha, Sonowal emphasized that the Directorate General of Shipping is advocating for Indian entities to take ownership and operate containers as a sustainable solution.

Sonowal highlighted the recent Red Sea crisis, which started in late 2023 and continued into 2024, as a key factor causing significant delays and elevated transit costs. The crisis led to ships being diverted from the Suez Canal to the Cape of Good Hope, extending transit times by 35 to 40 percent.

Furthermore, Sonowal noted substantial capacity expansions across India’s 12 major ports from 2014-15 to 2023-24. Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port increased its capacity by 31.29 percent, Paradip Port surged by 141.86 percent, with other ports like Chennai, Cochin, and New Mangalore also reporting notable upticks. Overall, port capacity grew by 87.01 percent, underlining the government's commitment to maritime infrastructure.