The government is in talks with exporters to help them deal with an international container shortage that has led to freight rates rising by over 300 per cent in the past year for key shipping routes.

Why is there an international container shortage?

• The reduction in the number of shipping vessels operating as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to fewer empty containers being picked up.
• This has left many containers in inland depots and stuck at ports for long durations.
• Long waiting times at key ports such as those in the US due to congestion are also contributing to lengthening turnaround time for containers.
• A sustained global economic recovery has added to the impetus to trade.
• Some countries are willing to pay a premium for empty containers and that this was further adding to the container shortage.

Freight rate impact

• The lack of availability of containers and the faster than expected recovery in international trade has pushed up freight rates significantly over the past year.
• Some key international routes are seeing an increase in freight rates of over 500 per cent compared to September last year.
• Structural problems such as the high turnaround time for ships in India also add to the container shortage issue that exporters are currently facing.

How is the container shortage impacting Indian exporters?

• Delay: Indian exporters are facing major delays in their shipments and consequent liquidity issues as they have to wait longer to receive payment for exported goods.
• Liquidity crunch: Exporters noted that shipments that used to take 45 days are now taking 75-90 days leading to a 2–3-month delay in payments leading to liquidity crunch particularly for small exporters.

How can the government help address this issue?

• Exporters are calling on the government to regulate the export of empty containers.
• Exporters have asked the government to curb the export of empty containers at all Indian ports in line with a move by the Kolkata port which restricted the number of empty containers permitted to be exported to 100 per vessel for a three month period.
• Exporters are also calling on the government to release about 20,000 containers that have been abandoned or are detained by government agencies so that they can augment supply.
• Indian exporters has also called on the government to notify a freight support scheme for all exports till the end of the fiscal when freight rates are expected to normalise.
• They are also asking the government to push back on a move by shipping lines to offer priority bookings at higher rates, asking that shipping lines revert to taking bookings on a first come first serve basis.
• In the medium term, exporters have called on the government to take steps to boost the manufacturing of containers in India.

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