38,000 Containers Stranded in Nhava Sheva Port Amid West Asia Conflict

· Perishable Agri exports are affected. Approximately 38,000 containers are stranded, including 3,000 with basmati rice and 1,000 with fruits.

[ABS News Service/11.03.2026]

Nhava Sheva (JNPA) port is experiencing rising congestion due to the West Asia (Middle East) conflict, with 18 vessels waiting at anchorage and over 60% terminal congestion reported as of March 10, 2026. Average waiting time has increased to 1.9 days, with high inventory levels, resulting in ~38,000 stranded containers.

· The congestion is affecting all major terminals, including JNPT and NSICT.

· The crisis in the Middle East has led to vessel delays, erratic schedules, and suspended bookings, causing a surge of cargo in storage, notes OOCL and Instagram.

· As of March 10, 2026, 18 container vessels were waiting, with 29 docked, according to MSN.

· The Jawaharlal Nehru Custom House (JNCH) has eased "Back to Town" (BTT) rules, allowing exporters to retrieve cargo without filing an Export General Manifest (EGM) to free up space.

· A new gate system has caused increased truck queuing, say India Seatrade News.

· Future Outlook: While currently high, the port is undergoing expansion, with PSA Mumbai (BMCT) adding capacity to handle increased volume (6.6 million TEUs April 2024–Feb 2025), notes Maritime Gateway.