India
India Approves ₹10,000-Crore Plan to Expand Container Production to 7.5 Lakh TEUs by FY40
On 28 October, the Union Cabinet approved a ₹10,000‑crore scheme to boost domestic container manufacturing, aiming to raise India’s annual capacity from 70,000 TEUs to 7.5 lakh TEUs by FY40. The outlay includes ₹8,891 crore for operating‑cost support, ₹859 crore in interest subsidies and ₹150 crore for testing and certification. The plan is part of India’s effort to reduce dependence on a sector dominated by China, which produced about 6.45 million TEUs in 2025 and accounted for more than 97% of global container production in FY26, while India’s capacity was around 70,000 TEUs. Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said India seeks to capture 15–20% of global container manufacturing by FY40. The scheme offers support across manufacturing costs, including concessional port lease rates and partial interest subsidies on capital loans. Most of the outlay—nearly 90%—will cover fiscal incentives linked to production. The support will amount to ₹49,500 per 20‑foot container, ₹86,625 per 40‑foot container and ₹37,125–74,250 per specialised 20‑foot container. Industry executives say the scheme could strengthen domestic supply and reduce vulnerability to shortages. The steel industry, trade, and ports are expected to benefit. The scheme is projected to create about 3,000 direct and more than 50,000 indirect jobs across steel, components and logistics, and is expected to generate about ₹75,000 crore in economic output by FY40, more than seven times the support provided.