Global shipping giant AP Moller–Maersk recently held a ceremony at the Maersk-CONCOR inland container depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh, to formally unveil its first Indian-manufactured EXIM container.

On the same day, Maersk announced an additional order for 1,000 domestically manufactured containers from India's DCM Shriram Group, marking the commencement of a long-term commercial partnership.

India's Minister of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, presided over the unveiling. Addressing the gathering, he stated: "Unveiling the first India-manufactured EXIM container for a leading global shipping company is a defining milestone in our journey toward 'Atmanirbhar Bharat.' This not only demonstrates the growing confidence of global industry in India's manufacturing capabilities but also reflects our firm commitment to building world-class maritime infrastructure."

According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways, the containers unveiled adhere to internationally recognised quality and safety standards, including ISO specifications and the International Convention for Safe Containers, making them fully ready for global deployment. The statement confirmed that Maersk has placed an additional order with DCM Shriram Group for 1,000 containers through this event, a move that will strengthen India's strategic position in the global maritime value chain.

This development is closely aligned with the Modi government's policy thrust to promote domestic manufacturing. The Rs 10 billion Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme framework announced in the 2026 Union Budget is designed to support new greenfield projects and the expansion of existing brownfield facilities through capital expenditure support, while simultaneously narrowing the cost gap between domestically manufactured and imported containers through operational subsidies, thereby enhancing the international competitiveness of domestic products. The scheme also specifically provides for R&D support to foster technological innovation. Officials anticipate the programme will effectively reduce India's dependence on imported containers, enhance supply chain resilience, and cultivate a globally competitive manufacturing ecosystem.

In a separate statement, Maersk emphasised that this unveiling is not an end point but rather the cornerstone of a long-term supply relationship. The company indicated that as Indian manufacturers continue to demonstrate their ability to consistently meet global quality standards at competitive costs, the scale of cooperation has the potential to expand further.