Maersk, the global integrated shipping and logistics company, has marked a milestone in India’s maritime industry by becoming the first international shipping line to acquire an export-import (EXIM) container manufactured in India.
The first unit was unveiled at the joint-venture Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, operated by Maersk and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal.
This milestone is the culmination of a 16-month journey that began in February 2025, when Maersk's Chairman of Supervisory Board, Robert Maersk Uggla, met India’s Honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, during which the Prime Minister urged Maersk to actively support the development of world-class shipping container manufacturing in India.
"I am really proud of what we have achieved, from a shared vision through execution to the unveiling of the container today. We have shared our global standards, deployed the best technical minds, and collaborated with Indian manufacturers and the Ministry to make this happen. It is proof that India's manufacturing ecosystem is getting ready for global demand. With the right investments in production facilities and a supporting ecosystem, we are confident the industry will get there."
Ahmed Hassan
Senior Vice President, A.P. Moller
"India has long been a nation of traders and seafarers. Today, we take a proud step forward as a manufacturer of containers, with international shipping lines procuring them from our country. The first made-in-India Maersk container is a testament to what is possible when global companies believe in India's potential. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action, and I am delighted that Maersk has chosen to lead from the front."
Shri Sarbananda Sonowal
Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways
Raising the bar on quality
Maersk's shipping container quality assurance standards are among the most stringent in the global shipping industry. Every container in the Maersk fleet must comply with ISO structural and dimensional specifications, the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), and Maersk's elevated quality requirements. Structural prototype testing in accordance with ISO 1496, including stacking, lifting, racking, floor strength tests, and weatherproofing validation, is conducted under the oversight of a classification society and witnessed by Maersk representatives. The first India-manufactured container has passed all these tests, earning full CSC safety approval.
Throughout the development phase, Maersk shared this global technical knowledge freely with its Indian manufacturing partner, and DCM Shriram Group responded with commitment and capability. The result is a container that meets Maersk's global standards.
Policy Enabling Industry
The commercial viability of Indian-manufactured containers has been significantly enhanced by the Union Government's decisive policy action. The proposed INR 10,000 crore in Production Linked Incentive support in the Union Budget 2026, developed in close consultation between the Government, manufacturers, and shipping lines, has created the conditions for Indian containers to compete on a global scale. The PLI framework reflects the kind of government-industry partnership that turns strategic intent into commercial reality and is a significant step forward under India's Maritime Vision 2030 and the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.
Maersk has been an active participant in shaping this policy environment and remains committed to working with the Ministry as the framework evolves.
Looking Ahead
As India's container manufacturing ecosystem matures and production capacity grows, Maersk intends to deepen its engagement within container manufacturing across the country. The company views today's milestone not as an endpoint but as the foundation for a long-term supply relationship that will grow in scale as Indian manufacturers consistently demonstrate they can meet global quality standards at competitive costs.
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