# India: Container Congestion and Freight Rates Rise **Category:** Operational Alerts | **Source:** Frachtportal Redaktion | **Published:** 2026-07-22 | **Updated:** 2026-07-26 **Tags:** Engpässe Seehafen, Indien, Containerabfuhren, Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Detention, Seefracht, Seefrachtkosten, Verzögerungen, Nahostkonflikt, Logistik News, Transport News, Fracht News, Speditions News, Supply Chain News, Zoll News, Frachtportal News, Digitalisierung, Zoll > The Middle East conflict is burdening India's container traffic. Port congestion is occurring in Mundra and Nhava Sheva, while freight rates, demurrage, and additional surcharges are rising. --- Container capacity is becoming scarce on India's west coast. Exporters report that containers are not being shipped as planned, bookings are being postponed, and individual vessels are skipping port calls. The ports of Mundra in the state of Gujarat and Jawaharlal Nehru Port near Mumbai, still commonly referred to in the industry as Nhava Sheva, are particularly affected. The problems are closely linked to disruptions in the Persian Gulf and around the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping lines have adjusted services, rerouted cargo, or restricted bookings for certain Gulf ports. As a result, additional transshipment containers are landing at Indian ports or remaining longer on terminals. At the same time, there is a shortage of available slots on various routes and suitable empty containers. Additionally, monsoon rains, temporarily interrupted terminal operations, and bottlenecks in truck pickup have exacerbated the congestion at Nhava Sheva. This demonstrates that the conflict is the trigger for many disruptions, but not the sole cause of the current capacity constraints. For shippers, costs are rising significantly. Indian exporters report doubled or even substantially higher market rates on certain routes. However, these reports represent individual quotes and not universally applicable freight rates. Official shipping line surcharges are being added on top. MSC has been charging a congestion surcharge of 500 US dollars per container since July 11 for traffic from Northern Europe to the Indian subcontinent. According to industry reports, CMA CGM has announced a peak season surcharge of 1,500 US dollars per container for exports from India to Northern Europe and the Mediterranean. For certain Gulf services, Maersk is currently charging emergency freight costs of 1,800 US dollars for a 20-foot container, 3,000 US dollars for a 40-foot container, and 3,800 US dollars for reefer, special, and hazardous cargo containers. A passage through the Strait of Hormuz may incur an additional 1,000 US dollars per container. The critical issue is that in addition to ocean freight, demurrage and detention charges are also increasing. Demurrage accrues when a container remains on the terminal longer than the free time period. Detention occurs when the container is returned late outside the terminal. India's shipping authority had already called on shipping lines in March to transparently disclose all costs and not to impose excessive or opportunistic surcharges. However, exporters continue to report last-minute and sometimes difficult-to-understand charges. --- For shipments to India, the dispatcher should not only look at the confirmed departure. What is crucial is whether vessel space and equipment are actually confirmed. For every quotation, a complete cost breakdown should be requested. This includes base freight, peak season surcharge, war risk surcharge, congestion surcharge, terminal costs, as well as possible demurrage and detention rates. For Gulf trades, it must additionally be checked whether the shipping line accepts the destination port and the cargo type in question at all. For reefer containers, dangerous goods, and special containers, different restrictions sometimes apply than for standard dry containers. Shippers should also clarify who bears additional costs in the event of rerouting, temporary storage, or a change of discharge port. Delays and shipping line instructions should be properly documented. This at least improves the starting position for subsequent requests for cost reduction or waiver. In short: For India shipments, vessel space, empty containers, port status, surcharges, and free storage time must be thoroughly checked once more before loading. --- Mundra and Nhava Sheva/JNPA continue to report high operational stress. The ports are not generally closed. Exporters report lack of storage capacity and postponed departures. Diverted Gulf and transshipment cargo increases pressure on terminals. Monsoon rains and restricted terminal operations have further aggravated the situation. Since 11 July 2026, MSC has levied a surcharge of USD 500 per container for Northern Europe–Indian Subcontinent trades. Maersk charges emergency freight costs of up to USD 3,800 per container for certain Gulf services. Demurrage applies to the exceeding of free terminal time. Detention applies to the late return of a container outside the terminal. The Indian maritime authority requires clear and early communication of all additional charges. ## Related Entities ### Countries - [India](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/land/in) ### Seaports - [Jawaharlal Nehru Port (Nhava Shiva) (IN NSA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/jawaharlal-nehru-port-nhava-shiva-port-in-nsa) - [Mundra (IN MUN)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mundra-port-in-mun) - [Pipavav Bandar (IN PAV)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/pipavav-bandar-port-in-pav) - [Hazira (IN HZA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/hazira-port-in-hza) - [Port Of Sohar (OM SOH)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/sohar-port-om-soh) - [Mina Raysut (OM SLL)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mina-raysut-port-om-sll) - [Mina Jabal Ali (AE JEA)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/information/seaports/mina-jabal-ali-port-ae-jea) ### Glossary - [Pickup](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/pickup) - [Booking](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/booking) - [Container](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/container) - [Export](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/export-2) - [Exporter](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/exporter) - [FCL (Full Container Load)](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/fcl-full-container-load) - [Freight rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-rate) - [Freight Rate](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/freight-rate-2) - [Shipping company](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/shipping-company) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight) - [Terminal](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/terminal) - [Antipiracy Measures in Maritime Freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/antipiracy-measures-in-maritime-freight) - [Sea freight](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/sea-freight-2) - [Billing for Detention and Demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/billing-for-detention-and-demurrage) - [Full Container Load Reefer Cargo Tracking](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/full-container-load-reefer-cargo-tracking) - [Ocean Freight Forwarder Agreements](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/ocean-freight-forwarder-agreements) - [Transshipment](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/transshipment) - [Demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/demurrage-2) - [Detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/detention-2) - [Port demurrage](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-demurrage) - [Port detention](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-detention) - [Demurrage Accrual](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/demurrage-accrual) - [Detention Accrual](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/detention-accrual) - [Peak Season](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/peak-season) - [War Risk Surcharge](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/war-risk-surcharge) - [Blank Sailing](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/blank-sailing) - [Rollover](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/rollover) - [Port Omission](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/port-omission) --- *Canonical URL: [https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/indien-containerstau-und-frachtraten-steigen-20260722184233](https://www.freight-academy.com/en/news/indien-containerstau-und-frachtraten-steigen-20260722184233)* *Markdown mirror: [https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/indien-containerstau-und-frachtraten-steigen-20260722184233](https://www.freight-academy.com/api/md/news/en/indien-containerstau-und-frachtraten-steigen-20260722184233)*