The government on Monday said that India’s exports to West Asia are continuing without major disruption despite the ongoing geopolitical tensions in the region. Officials stated that shipping operations at major ports remain stable and export cargo movement is proceeding smoothly.
According to official data shared by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, around 2,600 export containers have been shipped to West Asia from the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) over the last five days. The figures were presented by Rajesh Kumar Sinha, Special Secretary in the ministry, during a press briefing of the inter-ministerial group reviewing the situation.
The government also dismissed reports suggesting heavy congestion at major ports. Officials clarified that no major port in the country is currently facing a serious backlog of export cargo. At JNPA (Nhava Sheva), export-bound containers have actually declined from about 5,600 earlier to around 3,900, indicating that shipments are gradually moving out.
Earlier, some maritime intelligence agencies had warned about possible congestion at west coast ports such as JNPA and Kandla because of the West Asia crisis. However, the government said port authorities are closely monitoring container build-ups and have arranged additional storage space and logistics facilities to handle export cargo efficiently.
In a related development, India recently secured safe passage for two Indian-flagged LPG tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The first vessel, Shivalik, carrying around 46,000 tonnes of LPG contracted by Indian Oil Corporation, arrived at Mundra Port. Of this cargo, about 20,000 tonnes will be discharged at Mundra, while the remaining 26,000 tonnes will be transported to New Mangalore Port.
Another LPG carrier, Nanda Devi, is expected to reach Kandla Port shortly. Additionally, an Indian-flagged vessel Jag Laadki, carrying about 80,800 tonnes of Murban crude oil, has departed from the United Arab Emirates and is safely sailing toward India.
Officials said that 22 Indian-flagged vessels are currently located west of the Strait of Hormuz, including LPG carriers, crude oil tankers, LNG vessels, chemical tankers, container ships and bulk carriers. The government is actively engaging with regional stakeholders to ensure their safe passage.
The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that India is in discussions with Iran and other parties to maintain safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route for oil and gas supplies.
Meanwhile, India’s maritime regulator, the Directorate General of Shipping, has issued an advisory following concerns from exporters about higher freight charges, longer transit times and logistical challenges caused by the regional conflict. Shipping lines have been asked to maintain transparency in pricing and share operational feedback with the government.
Overall, the government maintains that export logistics remain functional and cargo movement to West Asia is continuing, despite disruptions caused by the ongoing regional tensions.
If you want, I can also shorten this into a crisp 150–200 word news copy or headline-style article suitable for publication.
