West Asia war: Ports may extend export relief till April-end as shipping delays
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories.NEW DELHI: India’s major ports are set to extend relief measures for exporters hit by disruptions from the ongoing West Asia conflict until the end of April, according to two people aware of the development, as shipping delays and logistics costs remain elevated.The extension will allow exporters to continue availing waivers on ground rent and dwell time charges, along with concessions on reefer plug-in fees and certain vessel-related charges for cargo stranded en route to West Asian markets.The measures, first rolled out in early March, initially covered cargo impacted until 15 March and were later extended to 31 March. With the conflict persisting and containers continuing to face delays and rerouting, authorities are considering a further extension through April.An extension would provide breathing room to exporters grappling with delayed shipments and working capital pressures due to longer transit times and supply chain disruptions, one of the people cited above said.
Any further extension beyond April would depend on how the conflict in West Asia evolves and its impact on global shipping routes, this person added.Queries emailed to the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW), Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), Deendayal Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority and Cochin Port Authority on 12 April remained unanswered till press time.The disruption stems from shipping bottlenecks in the Strait of Hormuz, a key transit route, forcing vessels to take longer routes and increasing transit time and costs. The conflict has also delayed export consignments, with containers getting stranded at ports.According to a government statement issued on 10 April, nearly 90% of backlog
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