India has recently introduced its first export-import (EXIM) shipping container, proudly manufactured within the country for AP Moller–Maersk. This significant achievement aims to enhance local sourcing for export supply chains, particularly in textiles and apparel.
The unveiling ceremony took place at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, led by the Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal. This move is expected to bolster India’s logistics and export capabilities, as Maersk has also placed an order for an additional 1,000 containers from the DCM Shriram Group.
With support from the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme, the Indian government aims to ramp up annual production capacity to 750,000 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). The first container meets globally recognized quality and safety standards, aligning with ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers, making it ready for international use.
This initiative follows a discussion between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Robert Maersk Uggla, chairman of AP Moller-Maersk, where the company was encouraged to invest in container manufacturing in India. Remarkably, this first container was produced just 16 months after that meeting.
Minister Sonowal emphasized that this milestone demonstrates growing confidence in India’s manufacturing potential and its plans for maritime infrastructure. The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme, highlighted in the Union Budget 2026, aims to reduce reliance on imported containers while supporting domestic production through various assistance programs, including research and skill development.
Sonowal noted that the scheme envisions a significant boost in manufacturing capacity, with plans to produce 750,000 TEUs annually.
