By Mr. Brijesh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global
Why India Is Suddenly on Every Shipping Map
For years, global liner networks have tilted towards China, Southeast Asia, and established European hubs. Today, India is quietly but steadily moving into that conversation. With rising export volumes, deeper ports, and a maturing ecosystem of shipping companies in India, the question is no longer “if” but “how fast” India can claim a more central position in liner servicing.
At the heart of this shift is scale. India now handles hundreds of million tonnes of cargo annually across its major ports, with container volumes growing faster than many traditional markets. As manufacturers diversify away from single-country sourcing, India’s combination of labour, market size, and improving infrastructure makes it a natural candidate for more direct mainline calls rather than relying only on transhipment through other hubs.
Ports, Policy and Predictability
Container terminals at ports like Mundra in Gujarat are already on the radar of large global liners. Looking ahead, the upcoming Vadhvan Port on Maharashtra’s west coast, north of Mumbai, is expected to further strengthen India’s position. Planned as a deep-draft port, Vadhvan will be capable of accommodating the world’s largest container vessels that many existing Indian ports cannot handle efficiently. This could enable more direct mainline services, reduce reliance on foreign transhipment hubs, and enhance India’s attractiveness as a strategic node in global liner networks.
Policy support has started to align with these ambitions. Initiatives such as the National Logistics Policy and PM Gati Shakti aim to synchronise ports, rail, road, and inland waterways into a more coherent network. When coastal shipping, dedicated freight corridors, and multi-modal logistics parks begin to operate in sync, liner networks get what they value most: reliability.
Role of Logistics and Freight Forwarders
Ships alone do not create a hub; the ecosystem around them does. The rise of integrated logistics in India and specialised freight forwarders in India has made cargo handling more seamless across first mile, port interface, and last mile. Exporters now expect one window for documentation, customs interface, and cargo movement rather than juggling multiple agencies.
The presence of experienced players in Logistics Company in India segments, especially in Mumbai and key gateway cities, has made liner servicing more attractive. When lines know that containers will arrive at the terminal on time, cleared and compliant, they can confidently expand services and consider India for more direct loops rather than feeder-heavy models.
Data, Demand and Direction
Several trends point in the same direction:
- India’s merchandise exports have crossed the 400 billion dollar mark in recent years, with a rising share of containerised cargo.
- Manufacturing clusters in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh are pushing more finished goods and higher-value cargo into global trade lanes.
- The government has set clear targets to reduce logistics costs as a percentage of GDP, which matters to liner economics and long-term network planning.
These numbers tell liners that India is not just a large market but one with sustained demand and policy intent behind it.
What Will Decide India’s Hub Status?
India’s path to becoming a strategic hub in global liner networks will depend on three things: how quickly ports keep upgrading capacity, how efficiently hinterland connectivity improves, and how consistently service standards are maintained across shipping services India offers today. If those pieces fall into place, mainline carriers will have strong reasons to anchor more of their regional network design around Indian gateways.
For exporters and importers, that would mean shorter transit times, more direct services, and more negotiating power on routes and rates. For the broader economy, it would mark a shift from being just a large participant in global trade to being one of its organising centres.
Author:
Mr. Brijesh Parekh, Director, Parekh Global
