India has marked a significant milestone in its maritime manufacturing journey with the launch of the country’s first indigenous export-import (EXIM) grade shipping container, a move aimed at reducing dependence on imported containers and strengthening supply chain resilience during global disruptions.
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, unveiled the first India-manufactured EXIM container on Friday. Simultaneously, global shipping and logistics company A.P. Moller – Maersk placed an order for 1,000 containers, marking a major endorsement of India’s growing manufacturing capabilities.
The containers are being manufactured by DCM Shriram Group at the Maersk–CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. The facility has produced the first container in compliance with internationally recognised quality and safety standards, including ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), enabling its deployment across global shipping networks.
Speaking at the launch, Sonowal described the development as a defining milestone in India’s Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.
“The unveiling of the first India-manufactured EXIM shipping container for a leading global shipping line is a defining milestone in our journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It reflects the growing confidence of global industry in India’s manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to building world-class maritime infrastructure,” the minister said.
The initiative supports the Government of India’s efforts to establish a robust domestic container manufacturing ecosystem through the ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS) announced in the Union Budget.
Under the CMPS framework, the government aims to increase India’s annual container manufacturing capacity tenfold to 750,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs). The scheme includes capital assistance, operational incentives, research and development support, testing facilities, and technology advancement to build a globally competitive container manufacturing industry.
The launch is expected to enhance India’s self-reliance in container availability, reduce vulnerability to international supply disruptions, and strengthen the country’s position in global maritime trade and logistics.