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India has introduced a series of relief measures at the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to reduce mounting pressure on exporters affected by shipping disruptions linked to the ongoing crisis in West Asia.
The measures come as congestion, vessel delays and higher freight costs continue to disrupt cargo movement through key maritime routes near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest oil and container shipping corridors. Indian exporters have reported delayed deliveries, rising storage costs and uncertainty over vessel schedules as several shipping lines alter routes or suspend services.
Under the latest relief package, JNPA has waived ground rent and dwell-time charges on stranded export containers for a limited period. Operators at container terminals within the port have also offered significant concessions on reefer plug-in charges for refrigerated cargo, helping exporters of perishable goods reduce operational losses.
The intervention is aimed primarily at shipments destined for Gulf markets that have been delayed due to rerouting, congestion and security-related restrictions affecting regional shipping lanes. Industry executives said the disruptions have sharply increased logistics expenses, with freight rates and insurance premiums rising substantially over recent weeks.
Exporters across sectors including agriculture, engineering, textiles and ceramics have been among the hardest hit. Thousands of containers remain stranded at ports or in transit, while some cargoes have reportedly been redirected to alternate transshipment hubs outside the Gulf region.
The government has also expanded broader support through a dedicated export assistance initiative designed to help businesses manage additional logistics and insurance costs arising from the West Asia crisis. The scheme includes logistical support, extended export obligation timelines and other facilitation measures intended to maintain trade flows with Gulf economies.
Trade and logistics experts said the port-level concessions could provide temporary financial relief to exporters, especially small and medium-sized firms dealing with liquidity pressure caused by delayed shipments and longer transit cycles. However, they cautioned that prolonged instability in the region may continue to affect shipping schedules and supply chain reliability in the months ahead.
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The Panama Canal is operating near full capacity as global shipping patterns shift in response to ongoing disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, placing fresh pressure on one of the world’s most critical maritime trade routes. Traffic through the canal has risen sharply in recent weeks, driven largely by increased shipments of crude oil, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and refined fuels from the United States to Asian markets. According to shipping association BIMCO, average daily vessel transits through the canal have climbed 8% year-on-year to around 38 ships a day, close to the canal’s operational limit of 36 to 40 transits. The increase follows growing instability around the Strait of Hormuz, a key energy chokepoint that handles a significant share of global oil and gas exports. Reduced shipping activity in the Gulf region and security concerns along Middle East trade routes have forced buyers to seek alternative energy supplies, particularly from the US Gulf Coast. The rerouting of cargoes has significantly increased demand for Panama Canal transit slots, especially among tanker operators. Canal authorities and shipping analysts say waiting times for vessels have increased by nearly 50% compared with last year, with average delays reaching close to two days. Auction prices for last-minute transit slots have also surged as operators compete for limited passage capacity. Container vessels, LPG carriers, oil tankers and dry bulk ships continue to account for the majority of canal traffic. However, energy carriers have emerged as the primary source of growth this year as trade flows adjust to geopolitical disruptions in West Asia. Shipping executives say the congestion reflects a broader restructuring of global supply chains, with cargoes increasingly moving along longer and less conventional routes. Some crude shipments that would normally move through the Gulf are now being redirected through the Atlantic Basin and across Panama toward Asia. The renewed strain on the Panama Canal also raises concerns over future capacity management. The waterway only recently recovered from severe drought conditions that forced transit restrictions during 2023 and 2024. Industry observers warn that another period of low rainfall or El Niño-related weather disruptions could tighten capacity further if elevated shipping demand continues. Analysts say the latest developments underline the growing vulnerability of global trade to disruptions at major maritime chokepoints, where geopolitical tensions in one region can quickly reshape shipping flows and logistics costs worldwide. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
India’s two largest container gateways, Mundra and Nhava Sheva, are facing mounting congestion as rising cargo volumes, truck driver shortages and rerouted shipments from the Middle East strain operations across the country’s logistics network. Shipping lines and logistics operators are reporting worsening turnaround times at both ports, with vessel delays averaging nearly two and a half days and some unscheduled ships waiting up to five days for berthing. The disruptions are slowing cargo movement, tightening yard space and forcing carriers to make last-minute operational changes. According to industry reports, a shortage of truck drivers has become a major bottleneck for container transfers between terminals and inland transport hubs. The issue has reduced the pace of cargo evacuation from ports, adding pressure on already crowded container yards. Terminal operators have intermittently restricted gate access to control container inflow, while export gate schedules continue to shift frequently. These changes are complicating truck planning and increasing uncertainty for exporters and freight forwarders. The congestion is being intensified by cargo diversions linked to disruptions in the Middle East, particularly around Gulf trade routes. Shipping lines have increasingly redirected transshipment cargo to Indian ports as alternatives to facilities in the Persian Gulf, sharply increasing container volumes in recent weeks. The pressure has begun affecting carrier schedules. Some shipping companies are rerouting vessels between terminals at short notice to avoid yard congestion. Danish shipping giant Maersk recently shifted several sailings from its regular terminal at Nhava Sheva to PSA Mumbai after facing space constraints and a growing container backlog. Industry stakeholders say these sudden terminal changes are creating operational and financial challenges for shippers, including higher handling costs and difficulties coordinating customs clearance and inland transportation. The latest disruption comes at a time when India has been positioning itself as a major global manufacturing and logistics hub. Over the past decade, the country has expanded port capacity, improved freight corridors and modernised customs processes to strengthen supply chain efficiency. However, the current congestion highlights the vulnerability of port infrastructure during periods of sudden trade realignment and geopolitical disruption. Logistics experts warn that prolonged delays could increase freight costs, extend delivery timelines and place additional pressure on exporters already dealing with volatile global shipping conditions. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
The Centre is intensifying efforts to develop the Brahmaputra River into a major inland logistics and transport corridor, with a renewed focus on cargo movement, multimodal connectivity and sustainable river infrastructure across the Northeast. Speaking at the High Powered Review Board meeting of the Brahmaputra Board in Guwahati, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal said the government is positioning the Brahmaputra as a key economic asset capable of supporting regional trade, connectivity and logistics growth. The government’s strategy centres on expanding inland water transport infrastructure along National Waterway-2 (NW-2), which connects Assam and the Northeast to Kolkata and Haldia ports through the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route. Officials view the corridor as a cost-effective and environmentally efficient alternative to road and rail transport for bulk and containerised cargo movement. According to the ministry, projects worth nearly ₹751 crore have already been completed in Assam, including terminals at Pandu, Dhubri and Jogighopa, along with floating jetties and upgraded shore facilities. Additional projects valued at more than ₹1,100 crore are currently under execution, covering fairway development, ship repair infrastructure, tourist jetties and a Regional Centre of Excellence in Dibrugarh. The Centre is also planning a future investment pipeline of around ₹4,800 crore for the Northeast waterways sector. Proposed developments include community jetties, cargo vessels, dredgers, cruise terminals and supporting customs and immigration infrastructure at strategic river ports. The projects are aimed at improving last-mile connectivity, reducing logistics costs and expanding cargo handling capacity in riverine regions. The Brahmaputra Board is simultaneously being restructured into a technology-driven river basin management institution, with greater use of GIS mapping, LiDAR surveys and digital monitoring systems for flood management, erosion control and navigability planning. Government officials said inland waterways are expected to play a larger role in India’s freight ecosystem as the country seeks greener logistics solutions and improved multimodal connectivity. Cargo movement on national waterways has reportedly increased from 18 million metric tonnes in 2014 to over 218 million metric tonnes in 2025-26. The Northeast has emerged as a priority region for inland waterway development under the Centre’s broader maritime and logistics expansion strategy. Recent initiatives in the region include new cargo and immigration facilities, river navigation infrastructure and plans for urban water transport systems in Assam.
