Indian export trades are witnessing a fresh expansion of container shipping capacity as Asian carriers increase their investments in services connecting the country with Southeast Asia, the Red Sea and East Africa, reflecting expectations of sustained growth in India’s international trade.
According to industry reports, carriers including Hong Kong-based OOCL, South Korea’s HMM and Emirates Shipping (ESL) have strengthened their Indian operations through new service launches, additional vessel deployments and network enhancements.
OOCL is preparing to introduce a new shuttle service, FCS4, connecting Chennai and Visakhapatnam on India’s east coast with Port Klang in Malaysia towards the end of November. The service is aimed at improving connectivity for Indian transhipment cargo and providing direct access to the Malaysian port.
The new service complements two intra-Asia services introduced by OOCL from India’s west coast earlier this year. These include the South-east Asia–Indian Subcontinent Service 2 (SIS2), connecting Mundra with several Southeast Asian ports, and the South-east Asia–Indian Subcontinent Service (SIS), covering Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Karachi and key Southeast Asian destinations.
Meanwhile, Emirates Shipping has expanded its Red Sea operations by restructuring its existing network into two separate services. The South Red Sea Service (SRS) will connect Nhava Sheva and Jeddah, while the North Red Sea Service (NRS) will link Nhava Sheva with Djibouti, Aqaba, Sokhna and Sohar.
Both services are being operated with two vessels each, strengthening the carrier’s connectivity between India and Red Sea markets.
South Korean carrier HMM has also strengthened its presence in the India-East Africa trade with the launch of a new service in late September, in partnership with COSCO, Interasia Lines and Pacific International Lines (PIL).
The Gulf–India–East Africa (GIA) service operates on a 35-day rotation covering Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Dar es Salaam, Mombasa and Nhava Sheva, providing additional shipping options for exporters targeting East African markets.
Competition is also intensifying with the entry of new regional operators. Vietnam-based Hai An Lines launched its standalone CVI service last month, connecting Chennai with Southeast Asian and Chinese ports. The service is operated by the 1,800-TEU vessel Haian Beta.
Strong Port Volumes Support Capacity Expansion
The growing deployment of vessels and additional services reflects shipping lines’ confidence in India’s export potential and the country’s economic growth outlook.
India’s real GDP is estimated to have expanded by 7.8% in the first quarter of FY2026-27, according to government data cited in the report.
The growth momentum is also evident in container handling at Indian ports. Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) recorded its highest-ever monthly container throughput in October 2026, handling approximately 865,000 TEUs, compared with 680,000 TEUs in October 2025.
The port’s cumulative container traffic for the current financial year reached approximately 5.5 million TEUs, registering a 19% year-on-year increase.
Despite geopolitical uncertainties and disruptions affecting international shipping routes, India’s export sector has continued to demonstrate resilience.
The expansion of regional shipping networks is expected to provide Indian exporters with more direct connections, improved sailing options and greater access to emerging markets, particularly across Southeast Asia, the Red Sea and East Africa.
The increasing participation of regional carriers also signals intensifying competition in India’s container shipping market, potentially offering shippers greater flexibility and a wider choice of services.