JNPA announces 100% fee waiver for West Asia-Bound cargo stranded by conflict

The Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) has announced a total waiver of ground rent and dwell-time charges for stranded export containers. The relief measures, which take immediate effect, follow a high-level directive from the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW).

The Ministry has instructed all major ports to implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) to mitigate the financial burden on the EXIM (Export-Import) community as shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz and the Persian Gulf face severe disruptions.

Under the new mandate for India's largest container port, terminal operators are now offering concessions to ease recent shipping disruptions. These include a 100% waiver on ground rent, covering storage and dwell-time charges for up to 15 days, and an 80% waiver on reefer charges, which are plug-in fees for refrigerated containers to support exporters of perishable goods.

These waivers are applicable for the period from February 28 to March 14, 2026, and apply specifically to West Asia-bound containers that were already inside the port premises on February 28 or entered through the terminal gates before 7:00 am on March 8.

The move comes as the global shipping industry grapples with the fallout of the Iran-Israel conflict, which began in late February. The resulting maritime uncertainty has seen war-risk surcharges skyrocket, leaving approximately 3,200 to 5,000 containers stranded at JNPA alone.

JNPA Chairperson, Gaurav Dayal, IAS said, "JNPA stands firmly with the EXIM community in navigating the challenges arising from the current geopolitical situation in the Middle East."

He noted that the port's primary goal is to mitigate the impact on exporters and ensure continuity of trade, while ensuring that no single industry or community bears an undue financial burden. The Chairperson also indicated a readiness to continue to explore additional measures to facilitate trade and support the EXIM ecosystem.

For relief measures, exporters and trade stakeholders are advised to contact their respective terminal operators and shipping lines. JNPA will keep the situation under continuous review and implement further necessary steps in the interest of trade, according to the press release.

The JNPA has issued a stern directive to shipping lines, non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs), and freight forwarders, mandating that these cost savings must be passed directly to the actual exporters.