Exporters raise scarcity of containers concern with commerce ministry 

October 24, 2020: In a high-level meeting with the ministry of commerce, the industry organizations of exporters, particularly handicrafts exporters, highlighted the issue to container unavailability in Indian ports that is hurting the country’s exports.

“In order to ensure that the handicrafts sector keeps growing at a brisk pace and continue to earn much needed foreign exchange and provide a livelihood to millions, it is important that the logistic system (availability and movement of containers) should support and complement the efforts made by the artisans and exporters,” said, Rakesh Kumar, director-general, Export Promotion Council for Handicrafts (EPCH).

The meeting was also attended by representatives of FIEO, FICCI, APEDA, CII and CSLA.

Handicrafts is one of the worst affected sectors on the account being the voluminous cargo shipments. They also raised the issue of high shipping cost by shipping companies resulting cost to buyers and the decline in exports of handicrafts in this pandemic situation and resulting lacking competitiveness with a country like China.

Apart from highlighting the shortage of containers, other important issues raised during the meeting including Inland haulage charges, terminal handling charges, additional cost incurred by the exporters, delaying shipments at various ports.

K. Verma, executive director, EPCH urged the government to consider the establishment of a regulatory authority through the enactment of the parliament to control and monitor the pricing, terms & conditions and other provisions relating to the shipment of goods. The current shipping lines are arbitrarily deciding the pricing and imposing conditions at their whims and fancies.