Vizhinjam Port Handles First Import Container, Begins Direct
Import Operations
·
First import container arrived at Vizhinjam International Port on 31 October 2026, marking
the commencement of direct import operations at the port.
·
The container arrived aboard MSC Sabrina III,
having been booked from Ningbo, China.
·
Importer: Altair Group,
Thiruvananthapuram.
·
Booking company: BSG Logistics and Ship Chandlers
Pvt. Ltd., a Thiruvananthapuram-based startup.
·
Cargo: Engineered building boards used
in the construction sector as an alternative to traditional plywood.
·
Jeromic George,
Managing Director, Vizhinjam International Seaport
Ltd., flagged off the truck carrying the first import
container out of the port.
Effect of
Commencement of Import Operations
1.
Direct Imports: Importers can now unload goods
directly at Vizhinjam, complete customs clearance and
transport goods to markets across Kerala.
2.
Lower Logistics Costs: Reduces
dependence on other ports, freight movement time and transportation costs.
3.
Revenue Retention: Cargo
handling and logistics-related revenue can be retained within Kerala instead of
flowing to other states.
4.
Employment Generation: Expected
to create jobs in Thiruvananthapuram and southern Kerala in:
o
Customs brokerage
o
Freight forwarding
o
Transportation
o
Warehousing
o
Port operations and cargo handling
5.
Expansion Beyond Transshipment: Marks an
important step in transforming Vizhinjam from a
transshipment hub into a port directly serving domestic importers.
·
Export Operations: A few
export containers have already been routed through Vizhinjam.
Significance: The
commencement of direct import operations strengthens Vizhinjam's
role in Kerala's EXIM trade and is expected to reduce logistics costs while
promoting local employment and economic activity.
The
ship carrying the first import container arrived at Vizhinjam
International Port on Saturday (31.10.2026), after exim
operations began at the port a few months ago. Vizhinjam
International Seaport Ltd managing director Jeromic
George flagged off the truck carrying the container out of the port.
The
container, booked from Ningbo, China, arrived at Vizhinjam
on MSC Sabrina III ship. The container was booked by BSG Logistics and Ship
Chandlers Private Ltd, a startup in the city, for Altair Group in
Thiruvananthapuram. The container contains engineered building boards used in
the construction sector as an alternative to traditional plywood.
With
the start of the import facility, goods can be unloaded directly at Vizhinjam, customs procedures can be completed, and they
can be brought to markets in Keralam. Through this,
the dependency on other ports and the time and cost for freight movement will
be reduced, said a statement by the port authorities.
It
will also make it possible to retain revenue from sectors such as cargo
handling and logistics within the state.
The
new facility will also pave the way to create more job opportunities in
Thiruvananthapuram and southern districts in sectors such as customs brokers,
freight forwarders, transporters, warehouse operators and port workers. Beyond
transshipment operations, this is an important step towards becoming a port
that directly serves importers in Keralam.
A
few export containers have already been routed via Vizhinjam
port.