Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Home Most Popular Box lines step up calls to Indian subcontinent and Middle East amid...

Box lines step up calls to Indian subcontinent and Middle East amid manufacturing shift

Shipping lines have been creating services in the Indian sub-continent and the Middle East as these regions are now creating hubs for manufacturers, and there is the infrastructure to support ocean transport, according to Container xChange’s latest monthly report.

Amid rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China, manufacturers have been diversifying their production bases away from China and to other regions, such as the Indian subcontinent and Southeast Asia.

Recently, COSCO Shipping Ports announced the US$375 million purchase of a 25% stake in Egypt’s Sokhna New Container Terminal. The project will operate for 30 years. It is believed that once complete, the terminal’s container capacity will reach 1.7 million TEU.

In addition, French carrier CMA CGM announced the launch of the new Bangladesh India Gulf Express (BIGEX) service, which began sailing from the port of Chittagong on 5 April, and will offer Bangladesh and India a direct connection with the Persian Gulf. The transit times will be much faster and exports from Chittagong will reach Nhava Sheva and Mundra within 10 days and Jebel Ali and Abu Dhabi within 15 days.

Container xChange also noted that Maersk Line integrated two emerging markets – West & Central Asia and Africa – to form a new combined IMEA (Indian sub-continent, Middle East and Africa) region. The primary markets for this new region will be India, Pakistan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Nigeria, Senegal, and Ghana, among others.

Maersk clarified that its customers would continue to work with the same teams and that the products and solutions they are offered will stay the same until informed otherwise.

The Indian sub-continent and the Middle East are thus not just viable regions thriving in resources but also strategic locations. The regions are now creating hubs for manufacturers, building infrastructure to support ocean and air transport, and actively making consumer markets more compact. Evidently, global supply chains are now getting more efficient with better accessibility and higher potential.


Martina Li
Asia Correspondent





Latest Posts

DSV and UNICEF deepen collaboration to speed humanitarian relief for children

Global transport and logistics group DSV and UNICEF have expanded their strategic alliance, sharpening the focus on rapid humanitarian response for children caught in...

COSCO’s new gas carriers operate under Wärtsilä’s systems

Wärtsilä Gas Solutions has been selected to supply the cargo handling and fuel supply systems for four new Very Large Gas Carriers being constructed...

Comparing Page Flows and Mobbin: Which UX Tool Delivers More Value?

In the fast-paced world of UX research, tools that not only showcase design patterns but also provide deep insight into user behavior are priceless....

Capacity surge plus paucity of demand, equals rate erosion

Analysts in the market agree, for once, that freight rates on the transpacific have peaked as the flood of capacity returned to the Pacific...

Insta Download Guide: Save Any Instagram Content in Seconds

Scrolling through Instagram has become a daily habit for millions. Whether it's stunning travel shots, funny memes, DIY tutorials, or heartwarming stories, the platform...
error: Content is protected !!