Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal led a high-level consultation in Mumbai on March 19, gathering shipping lines, freight forwarders, and trade bodies to evaluate the effects of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz on Indian maritime operations. The meeting, titled “Strategic Adaptation to Evolving Global Shipping Dynamics,” addressed the significant decline in merchant vessel traffic due to rising military tensions involving Iran.
A key takeaway from the consultation was the reduction of export backlog at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s largest container port. Stranded export containers fell from approximately 5,000 TEUs on March 1 to about 2,500 TEUs, aided by resumed shipping operations following diplomatic assurances from Tehran. Approximately 16,000 TEUs of cargo have been dispatched to Middle East destinations, though industry representatives noted that full normalization could take weeks due to ongoing volatility.
Minister Sonowal highlighted the government’s successful management of crisis situations at sea, citing the retrieval of Indian LPG vessels stranded in the Gulf. He pledged immediate attention to stakeholders’ concerns but did not specify upcoming policy measures. Additionally, freight forwarders urged regulations on high War Risk Surcharges imposed by shipping lines, claiming they undermine the competitiveness of Indian exports amid the ongoing crisis.
