CARGOCONNECT-JUNE2026 - Flipbook - Page 34
FOCUS : MARITIME LOGISTICS
Modernising terminals is
essential, but it is only one
part of the larger picture.
Real efficiency comes when
the entire logistics chain
works in synchronised manner. Ports sit at the centre
of global trade and even
incremental improvements
at the terminal level can
have a meaningful impact
across supply chains.
JIBU KURIEN ITTY
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER – PORTS & TERMINALS –
NHAVA SHEVA, DP WORLD
8+
9
million
TEUs
Indian ports
featured among the
CPPI Global Top 100
crossed by JNPA
in container
throughput
INDIA’S MARITIME AMBITIONS IN
A RECONFIGURED SUPPLY CHAIN
ECOSYSTEM
As global supply chains continue recalibrating around
diversification, manufacturing redistribution, and
corridor-level resilience, India is increasingly positioning
itself within a recon昀椀gured maritime ecosystem that is
gradually shifting toward multi-node trade networks
rather than concentrated global hubs. Supported by
manufacturing-led policy frameworks, infrastructure
expansion, multimodal integration, and growing port
capacity, the country’s maritime ambitions are steadily
moving beyond cargo-handling scale toward a larger
role within global trade and transshipment 昀氀ows.
India’s geographical positioning along the East-West
trade corridor remains one of its strongest structural
advantages within this evolving landscape. However,
translating location advantage into long-term maritime
competitiveness requires sustained investments across
port infrastructure, connectivity, and logistics integration.
Kaushik explains, “India is in a transition phase to be
a more prominent shipping player in terms of volume
and utilisation. Although, this shift will take time to
fully materialise.”
He further points out, “Being located on the East-West
shipping trade lanes means India has a geographical
34 | CARGOCONNECT JUNE 2026
location which is an advantage. Therefore, to capitalise
on that, the industry must increase its transhipment
capabilities and build out advanced port infrastructure.”
Practically, this underlines how infrastructure readiness is becoming central to India’s e昀昀orts to emerge
as a stronger maritime and logistics node within Asia.
The country’s maritime positioning is also increasingly being strengthened by broader manufacturing
and trade-policy developments. From the standpoint of
gateway infrastructure and trade 昀氀ows, Itty emphasises,
“India today is 昀椀nding a stronger and more stable position
within global supply chains.” While acknowledging that
“this is not happening overnight,” he a昀케rms that “the
direction is clear.”
This gradual strengthening of India’s trade position
is being supported by industrial-policy initiatives aimed
at expanding domestic manufacturing capacity and
export competitiveness. As Itty explains, “Policy initiatives such as Make in India and the Production Linked
Incentive (PLI) schemes have started strengthening the
manufacturing base and that is gradually re昀氀ecting
in trade 昀氀ows.”
At the same time, India’s logistics ecosystem itself
is becoming more diversified through the expansion of alternative transport modes and multimodal
connectivity frameworks. Highlighting one of the
more visible shifts, Itty notes, “The growth in inland
waterways from about 18 MTPA a decade ago to over
145 MTPA in FY 2024–25 is one such instance on how
the logistics ecosystem is expanding beyond traditional
modes.” This re昀氀ects how India’s maritime strategy
is increasingly extending beyond ports alone toward
integrated cargo-movement ecosystems.
Parallel investments in port infrastructure are
also being aligned with the anticipated growth in
containerised trade and hinterland cargo movement.
Itty says, “From our standpoint, we are aligning capacity and infrastructure to this shift.” Referring to DP
World’s expansion plans, he adds, “The development of
our green昀椀eld terminal with 2.19 million TEU capacity
at Tuna Tekra in Gujarat is part of that e昀昀ort, aimed
at improving hinterland connectivity and supporting
growing containerised trade.”
This combination of manufacturing growth,
infrastructure continuity, and connectivity improvements is gradually strengthening India’s reliability
within international trade networks. As Itty observes,
“what stands out is that India o昀昀ers scale, continuity in
policy and improving connectivity,” adding that “that
combination is increasingly making it a dependable
link in global trade networks.”
Importantly, India’s maritime ambitions are also
being reinforced through policy decisions aimed at
expanding transshipment activity across domestic
ports. Chandna informs, “Due to the continued cabotage
waiver for the foreign-昀氀agged container ships o昀昀ered by
the government, transhipment activities across major
ports have intensi昀椀ed.” This operational 昀氀exibility is
contributing to higher cargo movement and improving
the attractiveness of Indian ports within regional
shipping networks.
Alongside transshipment growth, broader invest-
