India unveiled its first domestically manufactured export-import shipping container yesterday (3 July), marking a significant step towards maritime self-reliance.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the container, manufactured for global shipping major A P Moller-Maersk, at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
The milestone demonstrates India’s growing manufacturing capabilities in the global maritime sector.
Maersk placed an order for 1,000 additional India-manufactured shipping containers with DCM Shriram Group during the event, signalling strong confidence in the country’s emerging container manufacturing ecosystem.
The achievement came just 16 months after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of A. P. Moller-Maersk, in February 2025, during which he encouraged the company to actively support the development of world-class container manufacturing in India.
The development aligns with the government’s Rs 10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme framework announced in the Union Budget 2026.
The scheme envisages an annual manufacturing capacity boost by 10 times up to 7.5 lakh TEUs, supported through capital assistance, operational incentives, research, testing and technology development.
The first India-manufactured container has been produced in accordance with internationally accepted quality and safety standards, including ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers, making it suitable for global deployment.
Maersk became the first international shipping line to procure an export-import shipping container manufactured in India, establishing a precedent for other global shipping companies.
Minister Sonowal emphasised the broader vision behind the initiative.
The objective is to make India self-reliant in container manufacturing and to establish the country as a global export hub for high-quality containers.
The scheme will create a strong domestic manufacturing ecosystem, generate employment, encourage technology transfer and significantly strengthen India’s supply-chain resilience, positioning the nation as a major player in global maritime manufacturing.
