JNCH Eases ‘Back to Town’ Rules for Stranded Export Cargo Amid Middle East Conflict

In a move to ease trade disruptions caused by the ongoing war in the Middle East, the Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) at Nhava Sheva has introduced relaxed procedures for exporters to retrieve stuck cargo without filing an Export General Manifest (EGM).

The conflict has suspended bookings by major shipping lines, closed key Gulf ports, and left a large volume of export shipments stranded at terminals, Container Freight Stations (CFS), and the Container Parking Plaza (CPP) at JNCH.

Key Trade Facilitation Measures

To prevent port congestion and reduce exporter hardships, JNCH has waived physical examinations and related fees/penalties for Back to Town (BTT) movements of these shipments. Here’s the streamlined process:

• Exporters or their Customs Brokers approach the Assistant/Deputy Commissioner at the relevant CFS or CPP with a request.
• Officers verify the Electronic Seal (e-seal) on self-sealed CPP containers or Customs Bottle Seals on dock-stuffed ones, matching details against Shipping Bills and stuffing records.
• For CPP containers: BTT permission granted solely on e-seal verification—no cargo examination needed.
• For CFS containers: Goods are destuffed, and individual lots per Shipping Bill are inspected minimally—no further examination required.

This follows guidelines in Public Notice No. 75/2023 dated 31.08.2023, with all other BTT requirements from PN No. 76/2025 and 75/2023 still applying unless contradicted.

The notice, issued by Commissioner of Customs Giridhar G. Pai (NS-II, JNCH), takes immediate effect and remains valid until shipping normalizes or further orders. Stakeholders facing implementation issues should contact the undersigned.

This relief is timely for India’s export sector, already navigating Red Sea rerouting challenges, helping clear backlogs and cut handling costs.