Box volume spikes cause trade flow snarls at Nhava Sheva terminals

Indian shippers at Nhava Sheva Port are grappling with severe congestion due to volume surges and unpredictable vessel schedules. Container truckers report significantly longer gate-in and gate-out times, causing chaos for container pickups and drops over the past few weeks.

The congestion is particularly acute at APM Terminals’ Gateway Terminals India (GTI) and DP World’s Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT). According to the Nhava Sheva Container Operators Welfare Association (NSCOWA), the delays average 6-8 hours for every export/import and empty container being processed at these terminals. NSCOWA, representing local container trailer operators, emphasized that despite daily traffic advisories, these delays are heavily disrupting the export/import cycle and affecting delivery schedules.

NSCOWA clarified that these delays are not the fault of their member transporters. Container freight station (CFS) owners in Nhava Sheva also report difficulty in clearing cargo from the docks, resulting in significant cost implications for cargo owners. The Container Freight Stations Association of India (CFSAI) noted high yard inventory levels across port terminals, further compounding the issue.

CFSAI highlighted that despite daily traffic advisories, congestion is extending the turnaround time for trailers and delaying deliveries to importers. Reports suggest that improved cargo-flow planning and coordinated efforts at the port and terminal levels are urgently needed. Terminal operators are struggling to manage vessel berthing windows due to frequent changes in expected arrival times, linked to longer transits around southern Africa and delays at previous ports.

This congestion is not isolated to Nhava Sheva; Mundra Port is also experiencing slowdowns in train turnaround times, affecting container rail companies. Together, Nhava Sheva and Mundra handle the bulk of India’s containerized freight movements.