Empty container operations at India’s Mundra Port have been disrupted following the suspension of services at off-port empty container depots and the implementation of new APSEZ rules on September 1. The Mundra Customs Brokers’ Association estimates that around 5,000 containers are currently affected each day. Several carriers have also issued advisories to customers.

Key Highlights 

• Depot suspension: Off-port empty container depots have suspended relevant services since August 28. 

• Daily impact: Around 5,000 containers are affected each day, with both empty container pickups for exports and returns for imports potentially disrupted. 

• Port operations: Several carriers have issued advisories, but Mundra Port has not shut down.

New Empty Container Rules Take Effect as Off-Port Depots Suspend Services

The disruption stems from APSEZ’s changes to empty container handling arrangements at Mundra Port. Under the new rules, carriers have been required since September 1 to assign empty containers to designated depots within Mundra Port and the Special Economic Zone (SEZ). Codes for the relevant off-port empty container depots have been frozen.

Operators of the off-port depots opposed the changes and suspended the relevant services from August 28. Once the new rules took effect, empty container pickups and returns previously handled through these depots were disrupted, affecting the movement of empty equipment.

APSEZ introduced the changes primarily to reduce road congestion around the port, improve truck turnaround times, and strengthen safety management. For existing off-port depot operators, however, their operations and investments will be affected if carriers stop using their facilities. Discussions between the parties over empty container operations are continuing.

Around 5,000 Containers Affected Daily, With Pickups and Returns Most Affected

Empty container pickups and returns are the operations most directly affected. For export shipments, if a previously designated depot is unable to release empty equipment as usual, freight forwarders and exporters will need to reconfirm the pickup location and container availability. Delays in collecting empty containers may also require changes to container stuffing, trucking, and terminal gate-in schedules.

Import operations also require close attention to empty container returns. After import cargo has been collected and the container unloaded, the inability of an existing depot to accept the empty container may result in a change of return location, longer truck waiting times, and additional transport costs. For cargo approaching the terminal cut-off, delays involving empty containers could also prevent the shipment from making its scheduled sailing.

The Mundra Customs Brokers’ Association estimates that around 5,000 containers are currently affected each day. The issue therefore extends beyond the location of empty containers and may affect the entire sequence of container pickup, stuffing, trucking, and terminal gate-in.

Multiple Carriers Issue Advisories for Upcoming Shipments

As the operational impact has widened, several carriers have issued customer advisories. CMA CGM confirmed that empty container movements at Mundra had been disrupted, affecting both pickups and returns. Hapag-Lloyd also advised customers to monitor empty container allocation and return arrangements at the affected depots. Industry media have reported that MSC and ONE have also notified customers of the situation.

Freight forwarders with upcoming shipments through Mundra Port should pay particular attention to bookings for which empty containers have not yet been collected, shipments due to be stuffed, and cargo approaching the terminal cut-off. Based on the latest carrier notices, they should reconfirm pickup and return locations, empty container availability, and trucking arrangements to ensure that existing operational plans align with the new procedures.

The disruption does not mean that Mundra Port has shut down. The main impact is currently on off-port empty container movements, while terminal and container freight station (CFS) operations remain active. The situation is therefore more accurately described as a disruption to empty container handling rather than a shutdown of the entire port.

The extent of any further disruption will depend on whether off-port depots resume services and whether the designated depots within the port can absorb the additional empty container volume. If the situation continues, greater pressure may be placed on empty container allocation, trucking capacity, and export stuffing schedules.

For freight forwarders handling imports and exports through Mundra Port, the immediate concern is not whether the port has shut down, but whether empty container pickup and return arrangements have changed and whether those changes are being communicated promptly to operational teams.

Sources and Disclaimer

Sources include CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, the Mundra Customs Brokers’ Association, and publicly available industry sources in India. This article is intended solely as a reference for the international logistics and freight forwarding industry.