Union Minister Sonowal launches milestone container at Dadri ICD, calling it “Atmanirbhar Bharat in action”
A.P. Moller – Maersk, the world’s leading integrated shipping and logistics company, today achieved a historic milestone in India’s maritime sector by becoming the first international shipping line to procure an export-import (EXIM) shipping container manufactured in India. The inaugural unit was unveiled at the Maersk and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) joint-venture Inland Container Depot at Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, in the presence of Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways Sarbananda Sonowal.
The milestone was followed by Maersk placing an order with DCM Shriram Group for 1,000 additional shipping containers, marking the beginning of a scaled commercial relationship between the two companies.
A 16-Month Journey from Vision to Reality
This achievement is the culmination of a 16-month journey that began in February 2025, when Maersk’s Chairman of Supervisory Board, Robert Maersk Uggla, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. During that meeting, the Prime Minister urged Maersk to actively support the development of world-class shipping container manufacturing in India.
Ahmed Hassan, Senior Vice President, A.P. Moller – Maersk, said, “I am really proud of what we have achieved, from a shared vision through execution to the unveiling of the container today. We have shared our global standards, deployed the best technical minds, and collaborated with Indian manufacturers and the Ministry to make this happen.” He added, “It is proof that India’s manufacturing ecosystem is getting ready for global demand. With the right investments in production facilities and a supporting ecosystem, we are confident the industry will get there.”
Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, said, “India has long been a nation of traders and seafarers. Today, we take a proud step forward as a manufacturer of containers, with international shipping lines procuring them from our country.” He added, “The first made-in-India Maersk container is a testament to what is possible when global companies believe in India’s potential. This is Atmanirbhar Bharat in action, and I am delighted that Maersk has chosen to lead from the front.”
Raising the Bar on Quality
Maersk’s shipping container quality assurance standards are among the most stringent in the global shipping industry. Every container in the Maersk fleet must comply with:
- ISO structural and dimensional specifications
- The International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC)
- Maersk’s elevated internal quality requirements
Structural prototype testing in accordance with ISO 1496 — including stacking, lifting, racking, floor strength tests, and weatherproofing validation — was conducted under the oversight of a classification society and witnessed by Maersk representatives. The first India-manufactured container has passed all these tests, earning full CSC safety approval.
Throughout the development phase, Maersk shared its global technical knowledge freely with its Indian manufacturing partner, and DCM Shriram Group responded with commitment and capability, resulting in a container that meets Maersk’s global standards.
Policy Push Behind the Milestone
The commercial viability of Indian-manufactured containers has been significantly enhanced by the Union Government’s decisive policy action. The proposed INR 10,000 crore Production Linked Incentive (PLI) support in the Union Budget 2026 — developed in close consultation between the government, manufacturers and shipping lines — has created the conditions for Indian containers to compete on a global scale.
The PLI framework reflects the kind of government-industry partnership that turns strategic intent into commercial reality, and marks a significant step forward under India’s Maritime Vision 2030 and the Atmanirbhar Bharat programme. Maersk has been an active participant in shaping this policy environment and remains committed to working with the Ministry as the framework evolves.
Looking Ahead
As India’s container manufacturing ecosystem matures and production capacity grows, Maersk intends to deepen its engagement within container manufacturing across the country. The company views today’s milestone not as an endpoint but as the foundation for a long-term supply relationship that will grow in scale as Indian manufacturers consistently demonstrate they can meet global quality standards at competitive costs.
