Parliament Question: Domestic Manufacturers of Shipping Containers

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3540 ANSWERED ON 13.03.2026 DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS OF SHIPPING CONTAINERS 3540. MS KANGNA RANAUT: Will the MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS be pleased to state: प(cid:517)न, पोत प(cid:303)रवहन और जलमाग(cid:330) मं(cid:361)ी (a) the number of shipping containers manufactured domestically in the country during the last five financial years; (b) the steps, schemes and policy initiatives undertaken by the Government to enhance indigenous manufacturing capacity of containers, including incentives, standardisation, demand aggregation and support to domestic manufacturers; and (c) the impact of these initiatives on import substitution, availability of containers for Indian trade and reduction in logistics costs? ANSWER MINISTER OF PORTS, SHIPPING AND WATERWAYS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL) (a) The domestic manufacturing of shipping containers in India has been limited, and production has begun to scale up only in recent years. The maximum production recorded to date was approximately 24,000 TEUs in FY 2024. (b) The Government in Budget Speech 2026-27 has announced a Scheme for container manufacturing in India with a budget outlay of Rs. 10,000 crore aimed at creating globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in the country through financial incentives to support establishment and expansion of container manufacturing units. The Government is also encouraging demand aggregation through public sector shipping companies and container operators to ensure stable orders for domestic manufacturers. (c) The initiatives are expected to reduce dependence on imported containers and promote import substitution. Enhanced domestic manufacturing capacity will improve availability of containers for Indian EXIM trade and reduce vulnerability to global supply disruptions. These measures are also likely to lower logistics costs, improve cargo movement efficiency, and support employment and allied industries. *****