India Unveils First Made-in-India EXIM Shipping Container
Maersk Orders 1,000 More Containers as Centre Pushes Maritime Self-Reliance and Domestic Manufacturing
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 3rd July: India on Friday achieved a major milestone in its maritime manufacturing sector with the unveiling of the country’s first export-import (EXIM) shipping container manufactured domestically for global shipping company A.P. Moller–Maersk.
The container was unveiled by Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. The development marks a significant step towards achieving the government’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India and Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047.
During the event, Maersk placed an order for 1,000 additional India-manufactured shipping containers with the DCM Shriram Group, signalling growing confidence in India’s emerging container manufacturing ecosystem and laying the foundation for a long-term commercial partnership.
Speaking on the occasion, Sonowal said the rollout of the first India-made EXIM shipping container for a leading global shipping line reflects increasing international confidence in India’s manufacturing capabilities and its expanding maritime infrastructure.
The minister said the government is building not only shipping containers but also a globally competitive maritime manufacturing ecosystem that will generate employment, promote technology transfer and strengthen India’s position in the global maritime value chain.
The container has been manufactured in compliance with international quality and safety standards, including ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), making it suitable for global deployment.
Sonowal highlighted the ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS), announced in the Union Budget 2026, which aims to reduce dependence on imported containers through capital support, operational incentives, research, testing and technology development.
Under the policy, the government aims to increase India’s annual container manufacturing capacity nearly tenfold to 7.9 lakh TEUs, creating a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem while enhancing supply chain resilience and export competitiveness.
The minister said the initiative complements a series of maritime reforms, including the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, Indian Ports Act, 2025 and digital initiatives such as One Nation One Port Process, Maritime Single Window and e-Samudra to improve ease of doing business.
The event was attended by senior government officials, representatives of Maersk, DCM Shriram Group, CONCOR and the maritime industry, along with the Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to India.
