<p data-path-to-node="5" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-184" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-350" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">An escalating operational crisis at India’s premier commercial container gateway, </span><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="103" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mundra Port</b><span class="citation-350" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, has put an estimated </span><b data-path-to-node="5" data-index-in-node="137" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">5,000 containers a day at risk of being held up</b><span class="citation-350 citation-end-350" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, severely choking critical export-import (EXIM) cargo pipelines across Northern and Western India.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="1" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><p data-path-to-node="6" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-185" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><span class="citation-349" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The crisis, triggered by </span><b data-path-to-node="6" data-index-in-node="25" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone’s (APSEZ)</b><span class="citation-349 citation-end-349" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> decision to freeze off-dock empty container yard codes from September 1, 2026, has seen empty-container depot operators halt work, stranding import turn-ins and export factory stuffing.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="2" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span> <span class="citation-348 citation-end-348" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">With container movement throttled, peak cargo from industrial clusters including Morbi ceramics, Rajkot engineering components, and Unjha spices faces mounting shipment rollovers, missed vessel cut-offs, and surging detention costs.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="3" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p><h3 data-path-to-node="8" style="font-family: &quot;Google Sans&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Industry Escalation</h3><ul data-path-to-node="9" style="padding-inline-start: 32px; font-family: &quot;Google Sans Text&quot;, sans-serif !important; line-height: 1.15 !important;"><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,0,0" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-186" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">5,000 Boxes Held Up Daily:</b> <span class="citation-347" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Trade estimates from the </span><b data-path-to-node="9,0,0" data-index-in-node="52" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Mundra Customs Brokers' Association (MCBA)</b><span class="citation-347 citation-end-347" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> indicate that approximately 5,000 containers per day are facing operational paralysis, paralyzing both the return of empty import boxes and the supply of sound containers for outbound factory stuffing.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="4" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,1,0" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-187" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Capacity Bottlenecks Inside Port SEZ:</b> <span class="citation-346" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="42" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Kandla Mundra Container Transport Association (KMCTA)</b><span class="citation-346" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> and yard operators warned that empty storage yards located within the Mundra SEZ can handle only roughly </span><b data-path-to-node="9,1,0" data-index-in-node="201" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">20% of the port's total container business</b><span class="citation-346 citation-end-346" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, leaving the remaining 80% stranded without off-dock alternatives.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="5" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,2,0" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-188" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Trade Bodies Appeal to DGS:</b> <span class="citation-345" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The </span><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="32" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Federation of Freight Forwarders' Associations in India (FFFAI)</b><span class="citation-345" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> has sought urgent intervention from the </span><b data-path-to-node="9,2,0" data-index-in-node="136" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Directorate General of Shipping (DGS)</b><span class="citation-345 citation-end-345" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">, highlighting critical risks of stranded road convoys, detention and demurrage liabilities, and inflated port logistics expenses.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="6" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,3,0" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-189" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,3,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Calls for Trade Cost Relief:</b> <span class="citation-344 citation-end-344" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">The MCBA urged ocean carriers to grant fee-free extensions on Delivery Orders (DO) and related gate permissions, provide alternative nominated yards, and ensure cargo owners are not penalized with demurrage for disruptions beyond their control.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="7" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"> <source-inline-chip _ngcontent-ng-c2273216988="" _nghost-ng-c2722076574="" class="ng-star-inserted" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><!----><!----><!----><!----><!----></source-inline-chip><!----><!----><!----></sources-carousel-inline></p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,4,0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,4,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Severe Blow to Regional Export Hubs:</b> Exporters from the Morbi Ceramic Association and Saurashtra-Kutch manufacturing belts warned that the local shutdown compound existing supply chain friction from Red Sea route diversions, threatening immediate order cancellations.</p></li><li style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><p data-path-to-node="9,5,0" id="p-rc_20fe376149c8f274-190" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><b data-path-to-node="9,5,0" data-index-in-node="0" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">Port Operator Rationale:</b> <span class="citation-343 citation-end-343" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;">APSEZ maintained in its original directive that consolidating empty container movements within port-supervised zones addresses code misuse, reduces external roadway congestion, optimizes tractor-trailer turnarounds, and enhances yard security.<source-footnote ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2018715059="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"><sup _ngcontent-ng-c2018715059="" class="superscript" data-turn-source-index="8" style="line-height: 1.15 !important; font-size: 16px !important; background-color: transparent !important;"><!----></sup></source-footnote></span><sources-carousel-inline ng-version="0.0.0-PLACEHOLDER" _nghost-ng-c2273216988="" style="line-height: 1.15 !important;"></sources-carousel-inline></p></li></ul>