Maersk unveils first India-made EXIM shipping container

A.P. Moller–Maersk has become the first international shipping line to procure an export-import (EXIM) shipping container manufactured in India. The first container was unveiled at the Maersk and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) joint venture Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal. Following the milestone, Maersk placed an order with DCM Shriram Group for 1,000 additional shipping containers, marking the start of a larger commercial relationship.

The milestone comes after a 16-month journey that began in February 2025, when Robert Maersk Uggla, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Maersk, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. During the meeting, the Prime Minister encouraged Maersk to support the development of world-class shipping container manufacturing in India.

Ahmed Hassan, Senior Vice President, A.P. Moller–Maersk, said the company had turned a shared vision into reality by working closely with Indian manufacturers and the Ministry. He said Maersk shared its global standards, deployed technical expertise and collaborated with Indian partners to make the project possible.

"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," Hassan added.

Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said India had taken an important step forward by becoming a manufacturer of shipping containers for international shipping lines.

"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," he said.

According to Maersk, every container in its fleet must meet ISO structural and dimensional specifications, the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC) and the company's own quality standards. The first container manufactured in India successfully passed structural prototype testing, including stacking, lifting, racking, floor strength and weatherproofing tests, and received full CSC safety approval.

During the development process, Maersk shared its technical knowledge with DCM Shriram Group, enabling the manufacturer to produce a container that meets the company's global quality standards.

Maersk said the commercial viability of manufacturing shipping containers in India has been strengthened by the Union Government's policy support. It highlighted the proposed ₹10,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) support announced in the Union Budget 2026, saying the initiative was developed through consultations between the government, manufacturers and shipping lines. The company said the framework would help Indian-made containers compete globally and support the objectives of Maritime Vision 2030 and the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme.

The company added that it had actively participated in shaping the policy framework and would continue to work with the Ministry as it evolves.

Looking ahead, Maersk said it plans to expand its engagement with India's container manufacturing sector as production capacity increases. The company said it sees the first India-made container as the beginning of a long-term supply relationship that will grow as Indian manufacturers continue to meet global quality standards at competitive costs.