<p data-path-to-node="7">The <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="16">Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO)</b> has renewed its urgent appeal to the Government of India to establish a <b data-path-to-node="7" data-index-in-node="137">national, globally competitive container shipping line</b>, warning that Indian exporters remain heavily vulnerable to soaring freight rates, arbitrary surcharges, and capacity bottlenecks controlled by foreign carrier cartels.</p><p data-path-to-node="8">Speaking on the challenges confronting Indian merchandise trade amid escalating regional conflicts and maritime disruptions, the FIEO leadership highlighted that Indian shippers remit roughly <b data-path-to-node="8" data-index-in-node="192">$80 billion to $100 billion annually in ocean freight charges</b> to foreign shipping lines. Establishing a domestic container carrier of global scale either through a public-private partnership (PPP) model or by substantially expanding the fleet of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) is essential to retain valuable foreign exchange, cushion domestic trade against geopolitical shocks, and safeguard national economic sovereignty.</p><h3 data-path-to-node="10">Key Operational Highlights &amp; Strategic Demands</h3><ul data-path-to-node="11"><li><p data-path-to-node="11,0,0"><b data-path-to-node="11,0,0" data-index-in-node="0">Stemming Substantial Freight Outflows:</b> The apex exporters' body pointed out that over 90% to 95% of India’s EXIM cargo by volume is hauled by foreign-flagged carriers. Creating a national container carrier would retain tens of billions of dollars within the domestic banking and logistics system each year.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="11,1,0"><b data-path-to-node="11,1,0" data-index-in-node="0">Insulating Exporters from Cartelized Spot Spikes:</b> Ongoing maritime chokepoint crises such as Red Sea reroutings around the Cape of Good Hope have seen foreign shipping lines impose sudden peak-season surcharges, equipment repositioning fees, and war-risk premiums, eroding margins for Indian MSME exporters. A state-backed national line would provide baseline price stability and guaranteed slot allocations.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="11,2,0"><b data-path-to-node="11,2,0" data-index-in-node="0">Proposed Joint Venture / PPP Operating Structure:</b> FIEO recommended structuring the proposed carrier via a collaborative model involving public sector entities, sovereign wealth funds, major port authorities, and private logistics majors to ensure commercial agility alongside strategic alignment.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="11,3,0"><b data-path-to-node="11,3,0" data-index-in-node="0">Securing Critical Container Equipment:</b> A national fleet would directly alleviate chronic empty container shortages that frequently cripple inland container depots (ICDs) across northern and central industrial belts during global supply chain crunches.</p></li><li><p data-path-to-node="11,4,0"><b data-path-to-node="11,4,0" data-index-in-node="0">Aligning with Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047:</b> The demand reinforces targets set under the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways' long-term maritime master plan, which seeks to significantly raise the share of national trade transported on Indian-flagged, Indian-owned vessels.</p></li></ul>