Noida, Aug 17 (APAC Media): The Central Government has proposed a ₹10,000-crore Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) aimed at boosting domestic container production, reducing dependence on imports and strengthening the resilience of India’s trade and logistics infrastructure.
The Union Budget 2026-27 announced the scheme with an outlay of ₹10,000 crore over five years. It will provide financial and institutional support for establishing new manufacturing facilities and expanding existing units.
The initiative seeks to develop a globally competitive container manufacturing ecosystem and raise India’s annual domestic production capacity to around 7.5 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
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Under the scheme, capital assistance will be provided for new Greenfield manufacturing facilities, while existing Brownfield units will receive support for expansion. The initiative will also offer operational assistance to enhance the competitiveness of domestic manufacturers, besides supporting testing infrastructure, skill development and capacity building.
India currently imports nearly two million empty containers each year to meet domestic demand and facilitate container repositioning. The government has said that boosting domestic manufacturing will help reduce the country’s exposure to global supply-chain disruptions and fluctuations in freight rates.
Shipping containers are standardised steel units that facilitate the movement of cargo across ships, rail and road networks without requiring goods to be unloaded and repacked.
The 20-foot and 40-foot containers are the most widely used sizes, with container capacity measured in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs).
In February 2026, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Bharat Container Shipping Line. The proposed initiative brings together the Shipping Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited.
The initiative envisages an investment of around ₹99,149 crore to develop a fleet of 51 container vessels of various sizes and procure domestically manufactured containers.
The government expects the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS) to create around 3,000 direct jobs and more than 50,000 indirect employment opportunities across container manufacturing and allied sectors.
The scheme is also expected to benefit industries producing key components and materials, including corner castings, wooden frames and Corten steel.
India has already made progress in developing domestic container manufacturing capabilities. In July 2026, the country’s first India-manufactured EXIM shipping container for global shipping major A.P. Moller–Maersk was rolled out at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
Manufactured in compliance with internationally recognised ISO standards and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), the container is suitable for deployment across global shipping networks.
Maersk has also placed an order for 1,000 additional Made-in-India shipping containers with the DCM Shriram Group, providing an early commercial endorsement of India’s emerging container manufacturing capabilities.
Alongside the manufacturing push, the government is pursuing broader reforms in the maritime sector:-
- Broader Maritime Reforms: The Government is pursuing wider reforms alongside the container manufacturing initiative to strengthen India’s maritime sector.
- Modernising Shipping Laws: The Merchant Shipping Act, 2025, and Coastal Shipping Act, 2025, aim to modernise regulations governing shipping and coastal trade.
- Strengthening Port Governance: The Indian Ports Act, 2025, seeks to update the regulatory framework for port operations and improve maritime governance.
Digital initiatives such as One Nation One Port Process, the Maritime Single Window and e-Samudra are aimed at streamlining procedures, reducing documentation and improving efficiency across port and shipping operations.
The government has also announced a ₹70,000-crore shipbuilding financial assistance package to strengthen domestic shipbuilding and attract investment in maritime manufacturing.
Major port projects, including Vadhavan Port, the International Container Transshipment Port at Galathea Bay, Tuna Tekra Container Terminal and the Outer Harbour Container Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port, are being developed to expand cargo-handling capacity.
Three Indian ports have also been ranked among the world’s top 30 in the Container Port Performance Index 2025, reflecting improvements in port efficiency.
–ENDS–
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is based on publicly available information. APAC Media is not responsible for investment decisions or losses. Please conduct your own research or consult a financial adviser before investing.
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