A.P. Moller-Maersk: A Milestone in India’s Maritime Manufacturing
Image Credits: Maersk
A.P. Moller-Maersk, the world’s leading integrated shipping and logistics company, has made headlines by becoming the first international shipping line to purchase an export-import (EXIM) shipping container entirely manufactured in India. This groundbreaking achievement was unveiled on July 3, 2026, at the Maersk and Container Corporation of India (CONCOR) joint-venture Inland Container Depot located in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh.
The significance of this event extends beyond corporate transactions—it signals a significant shift towards self-reliance in Indian maritime manufacturing. The inaugural ceremony was presided over by Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, further establishing the government’s commitment to India’s growing maritime capabilities.
The Vision Behind Domestic Manufacturing
The vision for manufacturing containers locally took root during a pivotal meeting in February 2025 between Maersk’s Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Robert Maersk Uggla, and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During the discussion, PM Modi emphasized the need for Maersk’s investment in a world-class shipping container manufacturing ecosystem within India.
Taking the Prime Minister’s vision as a challenge, Maersk mobilized resources—partnering with Indian manufacturers and technical experts. Remarkably, in just 16 months, they brought the first Indian-manufactured shipping container to fruition, showcasing the strengths of a robust public-private partnership.
Ensuring Global Standards
A key focus of this initiative was ensuring that the locally manufactured containers could meet international trade requirements and maintain the highest quality assurance standards. Maersk is renowned for its adherence to stringent quality norms, making this a crucial step.
The DCM Shriram Group was entrusted with producing the EXIM shipping container, ensuring full compliance with the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). As a company with a legacy dating back to a 1993 joint venture with Hyundai Mobis, DCM Containers employed its expertise to deliver a high-quality product.
Throughout the manufacturing phase, extensive testing was conducted in accordance with ISO 1496 guidelines, covering stacking, lifting, racking, and floor strength tests. The oversight of a classification society and the presence of Maersk representatives during these tests ensured that the first unit successfully passed all quality checks, earning it CSC safety approval for global deployment.
Industry and Government Collaboration
The success of this initiative can be attributed to proactive policy interventions by the Indian government. A notable contributor was the recently proposed Rs 10,000 crore scheme for container manufacturing, introduced in the Union Budget for 2026. This scheme is structured as a Production Linked Incentive (PLI) framework, designed to create a competitive container manufacturing ecosystem in India over the next five years.
By gathering input from both manufacturers and shipping lines, the PLI framework aims to enhance conditions for Indian shipping containers to compete on a global scale, effectively bridging cost gaps and stimulating investment. This government-industry partnership reflects a strategic pivot towards making India a self-sufficient hub for container manufacturing.
A Vision for the Future
At the ceremony, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal highlighted India’s maritime heritage, stating, “India has long been a nation of traders and seafarers. Today, we take a proud step forward as a manufacturer of containers, with international shipping lines procuring them from our country.” He positioned the first made-in-India container as a testament to global companies’ faith in India’s capabilities.
Maersk’s order for an additional 1,000 containers from the DCM Shriram Group is seen as the foundation for a sustained partnership. As domestic container manufacturing capabilities expand, India stands poised to become a formidable force in meeting global standards for shipping containers at competitive prices.
This initiative is a significant stride towards fulfilling India’s Maritime Vision 2030, aligning with the broader “Atmanirbhar Bharat” initiative, which aims to make India self-reliant in various sectors, including shipping.