India has unveiled its first export-import shipping container manufactured in the country for global shipping major A.P. Moller-Maersk, marking a new step in domestic maritime manufacturing.
Union Minister of Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal unveiled the container on Friday, 3 July, at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
According to a statement by the Ministry of Shipping, Ports and Waterways, Maersk also placed an order for 1,000 additional India-manufactured shipping containers with DCM Shriram Group during the event.
The ministry said the order marks the beginning of a long-term commercial partnership aimed at strengthening India’s position in the global maritime value chain.
The first India-manufactured EXIM container has been built in line with internationally accepted quality and safety standards, including ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers.
The ministry said this makes the container suitable for global deployment.
The development follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interaction with Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of A.P. Moller-Maersk, in February 2025.
During the meeting, the Prime Minister had encouraged the company to support world-class container manufacturing in India.
The ministry said the first internationally procured, India-manufactured EXIM shipping container has been rolled out within 16 months of that interaction.
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Speaking at the event, Sonowal said the development reflects growing global confidence in India’s manufacturing capabilities.
“Under the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is rapidly emerging as a trusted global manufacturing and maritime powerhouse. 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,” Sonowal said.
The minister said the achievement also shows how government policy, industry partnership and timely execution can create opportunities in manufacturing, employment, skill development and global competitiveness.
“Our Government remains firmly committed to converting every vision into reality within stipulated timelines while creating a resilient and self-reliant maritime ecosystem that supports India’s rise as a leading global trading nation,” he said.
The ministry said the milestone is aligned with the ₹10,000 crore Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme framework announced in the Union Budget 2026 for domestic container manufacturing.
The scheme is aimed at reducing dependence on imported containers, strengthening supply chain resilience and building a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India.
According to the ministry, the framework includes capital expenditure support for greenfield container manufacturing and expansion of existing brownfield facilities.
It also includes operational support to bridge the cost gap per container and improve the competitiveness of domestic manufacturing.
The scheme also provides for research and development support, testing, skilling and capacity building.
Sonowal said the CMPS scheme envisages a tenfold boost in annual manufacturing capacity up to 7.5 lakh TEUs, supported through capital assistance, operational incentives, research, testing and technology development.
“The objective is clear, to make India self-reliant in container manufacturing and to establish our country as a global export hub for high-quality containers,” he said.
The ministry said the event forms part of a wider maritime manufacturing and infrastructure push.
It cited recent measures including the Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, the Coastal Shipping Act, 2025 and the Indian Ports Act, 2025, along with digital initiatives such as One Nation One Port Process, Maritime Single Window and e-Samudra.
The ministry also referred to the ₹70,000 crore Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Package and the proposed Bharat Container Shipping Line as part of India’s maritime development agenda.
The event was attended by Marisa Gerards, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director of A.P. Moller-Maersk, Ahmad Hasan, Senior Vice President, Maersk, and representatives from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, DCM Shriram Group, CONCOR and the maritime industry.
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