Government Throws Lifeline to Exporters Battered by West Asia Surcharges

India’s Ministry of Shipping has stepped in to shield exporters from the mounting financial impact of war-risk surcharges being imposed by global container shipping lines, announcing a set of targeted relief measures that signal growing government urgency over the escalating crisis in West Asia.

Following a high-level meeting with representatives from the shipping and export sectors, Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha acknowledged the severity of the burden being placed on Indian traders. He urged affected stakeholders to formally submit details of entities imposing such charges, assuring that the government would take up the matter directly with the shipping lines involved. He also stated that any complications related to freight insurance would be addressed on a case-by-case basis if required.

The announcement comes at a particularly difficult time for Indian exporters, who are battling a combination of disrupted vessel schedules, longer transit times, and sharply higher logistics costs triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. War-risk surcharges — typically imposed by carriers when vessels operate in or near conflict zones — have surged in recent months as instability around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea corridor has intensified.

Separately, to provide short-term breathing room, Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) announced a reduction in storage charges at its facilities. With containers sitting longer at ports due to delays in vessel departures, exporters have been saddled with ballooning dwell-time charges. CONCOR’s fee cut is intended to ease that financial squeeze and keep cargo moving. The government has also extended its broader export cargo relief measures until the end of March 2026, offering additional time for businesses to adjust logistics arrangements as the Hormuz situation continues to evolve.

Industry bodies, meanwhile, are pushing for more comprehensive support. Exporters across sectors have urged the government to implement a six-month loan moratorium and expand access to working capital facilities to help businesses manage deteriorating cash flows. With the trade deficit widening to $27.1 billion in February — nearly double the figure India’s Ministry of Shipping has stepped in to shield exporters from the mounting financial impact of war-risk surcharges being imposed by global container shipping lines, announcing a set of targeted relief measures that signal growing government urgency over the escalating crisis in West Asia.

Following a high-level meeting with representatives from the shipping and export sectors, Special Secretary Rajesh Kumar Sinha acknowledged the severity of the burden being placed on Indian traders. He urged affected stakeholders to formally submit details of entities imposing such charges, assuring that the government would take up the matter directly with the shipping lines involved. He also stated that any complications related to freight insurance would be addressed on a case-by-case basis if required.

The announcement comes at a particularly difficult time for Indian exporters, who are battling a combination of disrupted vessel schedules, longer transit times, and sharply higher logistics costs triggered by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. War-risk surcharges — typically imposed by carriers when vessels operate in or near conflict zones — have surged in recent months as instability around the Strait of Hormuz and Red Sea corridor has intensified.

Separately, to provide short-term breathing room, Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) announced a reduction in storage charges at its facilities. With containers sitting longer at ports due to delays in vessel departures, exporters have been saddled with ballooning dwell-time charges. CONCOR’s fee cut is intended to ease that financial squeeze and keep cargo moving. The government has also extended its broader export cargo relief measures until the end of March 2026, offering additional time for businesses to adjust logistics arrangements as the Hormuz situation continues to evolve.

Industry bodies, meanwhile, are pushing for more comprehensive support. Exporters across sectors have urged the government to implement a six-month loan moratorium and expand access to working capital facilities to help businesses manage deteriorating cash flows. With the trade deficit widening to $27.1 billion in February — nearly double the figure recorded a year earlier — the pressure on policymakers to act decisively is mounting.recorded a year earlier — the pressure on policymakers to act decisively is mounting.