The proposed India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) could eventually handle around 3 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually, creating a major new multimodal trade link between India and European markets, according to Captain Sumit Chauhan, president of the Port of Haifa in Israel.
Speaking at the Mare Med conference in Tel Aviv on October 14, Chauhan said the corridor could initially handle approximately 1.5 million TEUs a year, with the potential to double volumes as port capacity, railway infrastructure and operational coordination improve.
The IMEC initiative aims to connect India with Europe through maritime and rail links across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel. Haifa Port could serve as a Mediterranean gateway, allowing cargo arriving from India to move onward to European destinations.
According to Chauhan’s projections, the corridor could reduce transit times by around 40% and lower logistics costs by up to 30% compared with the traditional route through the Suez Canal. These estimates depend on infrastructure development, cross-border agreements and the successful implementation of the proposed route.
The Adani Group’s presence in India’s port sector and its investment in Haifa Port could support closer coordination between the two ends of the proposed trade network. Digital cargo tracking, synchronised port operations and improved rail connectivity are among the measures that could enhance efficiency.
However, the corridor faces significant challenges, including geopolitical tensions, incomplete railway connections and the need for agreements among participating countries. Competing regional transport routes could also affect its eventual alignment and commercial viability.
For Indian exporters and importers, a fully operational IMEC could provide an additional option for reaching European markets, diversifying transport routes and improving supply-chain resilience. The projected 3-million-TEU capacity represents a long-term opportunity rather than existing cargo traffic.