Maersk Boosts India Manufacturing With New Order For 1,000 Shipping Containers

Global shipping giant Maersk has placed a fresh order for 1,000 India-manufactured shipping containers, marking a major endorsement of the country’s emerging container manufacturing industry, the Centre announced on Friday.

The announcement coincided with the unveiling of the first export-import (EXIM) shipping container built in India for the Danish shipping company at the Maersk-CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal presided over the event.

According to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Maersk placed the order with the DCM Shriram Group, signalling the start of what it described as a long-term commercial partnership that could strengthen India’s role in the global maritime supply chain.

“Marking a strong vote of confidence in India’s emerging container manufacturing ecosystem, Maersk also placed an order for 1,000 additional India-manufactured shipping containers with DCM Shriram Group during the event,” the ministry said in an official statement.

The ministry said the milestone follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with AP Moller–Maersk Supervisory Board Chairman Robert Maersk Uggla in February 2025, during which the Prime Minister encouraged the company to support the development of world-class container manufacturing in India.

It added that, within 16 months, the initiative had resulted in the rollout of the country’s first internationally procured, India-manufactured EXIM shipping container, calling it an example of the government’s ability to translate strategic vision into execution.

Addressing the event, Sonowal said the development reflects India’s growing stature as a global manufacturing and maritime hub.

“The unveiling of the first India-manufactured EXIM shipping container for a leading global shipping line is a defining milestone in our journey towards Atmanirbhar Bharat. It reflects the growing confidence of global industry in India’s manufacturing capabilities and our commitment to building world-class maritime infrastructure,” the minister said.

The latest order is expected to provide further momentum to India’s efforts to establish itself as a competitive global hub for shipping container manufacturing while expanding its footprint in the international maritime value chain.