Maersk Launches First Locally Manufactured Container in India

en.Wedoany.com Reported - Maersk, in a joint venture with CONCOR, inaugurated the first Indian-manufactured container at an inland container depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. India's Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Sarbananda Sonowal, attended the ceremony.

This achievement stems from a 16-month collaboration process that began in February 2025, when Maersk's Supervisory Board Chairman, Robert Maersk Uggla, met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Modi urged Maersk to support India in developing a world-class container manufacturing industry.

A.P. Moller Senior Vice President Ahmed Hassan stated that the team moved from a shared vision to execution, ultimately achieving the container's unveiling. Maersk shared global standards, deployed technical talent, and collaborated with Indian manufacturers and government departments, demonstrating that India's manufacturing ecosystem is preparing to meet global demand. He believes that with the right investments in production facilities and the ecosystem, the industry can achieve this goal.

Sarbananda Sonowal remarked that India has long been a nation of trade and navigation, and international shipping companies beginning to source containers from India is a practical action for "Self-Reliant India." He praised Maersk for choosing to lead this process.

Maersk's container quality assurance standards are among the strictest in the global shipping industry. Every container in its fleet must comply with ISO structural and dimensional specifications, the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), and Maersk's higher quality requirements. Structural prototype testing, conducted in accordance with ISO 1496 standards, includes stacking, lifting, lashing, floor strength tests, and weatherproofing verification. These tests are supervised by classification societies and witnessed by Maersk representatives. The first Indian-manufactured container has passed all tests and obtained CSC safety certification. During the development phase, Maersk freely shared global technical knowledge with its Indian manufacturing partner, DCM Shriram Group, which responded accordingly, ultimately producing containers that meet Maersk's global standards.

Policy actions by the Indian federal government have enhanced the commercial viability of Indian-manufactured containers. The 100 billion rupee Production Linked Incentive (PLI) support proposed in the 2026 federal budget, resulting from close consultations among the government, manufacturers, and shipping companies, has created conditions for Indian containers to compete globally. The PLI framework reflects the partnership between the government and industry, representing a significant step under India's Maritime Vision 2030 and the "Self-Reliant India" initiative. Maersk has been actively involved in shaping this policy environment and is committed to continuing its collaboration with government departments.

As India's container manufacturing ecosystem matures and production capacity grows, Maersk plans to deepen its involvement in container manufacturing across India. The company views this milestone as the foundation for a long-term supply relationship, which will scale up as Indian manufacturers continue to demonstrate their ability to meet global quality standards at competitive costs.