Shipping delays have paralysed two of India's biggest ports due to extreme weather and a surge in shipments
Ports on India's west coast, particularly Mundra, have been hampered by a surge in cargo volumes and extreme weather, causing delays and backlogs. Recovery is expected to take a week or more due to the ongoing weather. Mundra Port's woes are having a ripple effect on the regional supply chain, and Nhava Sheva Port is also facing severe traffic congestion.
Ports on India's west coast, particularly the port of Mundra, a container shipping hub, are under unprecedented operational pressure. This challenge is not only due to capacity constraints caused by continued growth in cargo volumes, but also compounded by severe disruptions to port operations caused by extreme weather events.
Adani Ports (APSEZ), the flagship entity that operates five container terminals including Mundra International Container Terminal (MICT) under DP World's concession, is going all out to clear the backlog and work to resume normal berthing of ships. However, due to the continued impact of the weather, it is expected that it may take a week or more for the cargo flow to resume.
In response to the current difficulties, the port of Mundra is said to prioritize the docking of export-oriented ships to relieve some of the pressure. At the same time, as more than half of the port's cargo relies on rail transport or inland container station (ICD) transshipment, the normal operation of rail services has also been affected, and there is a backlog of inbound trains, but the port has confirmed that efforts are being made to clear the stranded trains.
In addition, Mediterranean Shipping and CMA CGM vessels appear to have a priority berth advantage because of their partnership with Adani's terminal in Mundra, while other shipping companies face longer waiting times and even choose to skip port or divert to other coastal ports, including the CoSCO Philippines, which bypassing Mundra last week.
The problems at Mundra have also had a ripple effect through regional supply chains. Truck drivers and cargo terminal owners at the Port of Nhava Sheva (JNPA) have expressed frustration over the escalating delays in cargo entry and exit in recent days, calling on the authorities to intervene and resolve the problem as soon as possible. Recent road traffic restrictions, designed to simplify vehicle movement, have unexpectedly increased traffic congestion in the JNPA area, with truck drivers reporting that it takes up to 20 hours for vehicles to make U-turns.
Stakeholders such as the Container Freight Stations Association of India have also expressed concern over frequent road closures in JNPA areas, resulting in significant disruption and backlogs of goods, noting that exports are blocked and imports delayed, which puts huge pressure on transport companies and drivers to deliver on their promises to customers.
It is worth noting that despite the many challenges, the port of Nhava Sheva continues to grow in cargo volume, setting a new monthly record of 639,336TEU in August, a significant increase over the same period in 2023.
Ports on India's west coast, particularly the port of Mundra, a container shipping hub, are under unprecedented operational pressure. This challenge is not only due to capacity constraints caused by continued growth in cargo volumes, but also compounded by severe disruptions to port operations caused by extreme weather events.
Adani Ports (APSEZ), the flagship entity that operates five container terminals including Mundra International Container Terminal (MICT) under DP World's concession, is going all out to clear the backlog and work to resume normal berthing of ships. However, due to the continued impact of the weather, it is expected that it may take a week or more for the cargo flow to resume.
In response to the current difficulties, the port of Mundra is said to prioritize the docking of export-oriented ships to relieve some of the pressure. At the same time, as more than half of the port's cargo relies on rail transport or inland container station (ICD) transshipment, the normal operation of rail services has also been affected, and there is a backlog of inbound trains, but the port has confirmed that efforts are being made to clear the stranded trains.
In addition, Mediterranean Shipping and CMA CGM vessels appear to have a priority berth advantage because of their partnership with Adani's terminal in Mundra, while other shipping companies face longer waiting times and even choose to skip port or divert to other coastal ports, including the CoSCO Philippines, which bypassing Mundra last week.
The problems at Mundra have also had a ripple effect through regional supply chains. Truck drivers and cargo terminal owners at the Port of Nhava Sheva (JNPA) have expressed frustration over the escalating delays in cargo entry and exit in recent days, calling on the authorities to intervene and resolve the problem as soon as possible. Recent road traffic restrictions, designed to simplify vehicle movement, have unexpectedly increased traffic congestion in the JNPA area, with truck drivers reporting that it takes up to 20 hours for vehicles to make U-turns.
Stakeholders such as the Container Freight Stations Association of India have also expressed concern over frequent road closures in JNPA areas, resulting in significant disruption and backlogs of goods, noting that exports are blocked and imports delayed, which puts huge pressure on transport companies and drivers to deliver on their promises to customers.
It is worth noting that despite the many challenges, the port of Nhava Sheva continues to grow in cargo volume, setting a new monthly record of 639,336TEU in August, a significant increase over the same period in 2023.
