India Scrambles to Clear Stalled Cargo as Conflict Chokes Key Trade Routes

India is drawing up measures to rescue export and import cargo stranded by the West Asia conflict, as missile strikes and the closure of key sea lanes leave thousands of containers stuck at ports and on the high seas.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said he is in talks with the shipping ministry, major lines and trade bodies to address cargo delays triggered by the shutdown of the Strait of Hormuz and widespread carrier cancellations on Gulf and Red Sea routes. An inter‑ministerial mechanism is assessing options to ease pressure on exporters, including route diversification, temporary regulatory relaxations and relief on logistics costs.

Roughly 38,000 export containers are estimated to be affected, with about 3,000 rice boxes alone stuck at Indian ports, in transit or at Gulf destinations, alongside perishables, engineering goods and chemicals. To avoid mounting demurrage and detention charges, many exporters have begun filing “back‑to‑town” applications to bring consignments home, store them or offload into the domestic market where feasible.

Officials said limited hubs such as Khor Fakkan near Sharjah are still accepting emergency cargo, but most lines remain cautious, levying steep surcharges or suspending sailings into high‑risk ports. The government has promised to “use every policy lever” to keep trade moving and protect exporters’ interests as it monitors the evolving security and shipping situation in West Asia.