1. Introduction

The initiative seeks to increase India’s annual container manufacturing capacity by around ten times to up to 7.5 lakh Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). It is designed to support both new manufacturing facilities and the expansion of existing units, while improving India’s ability to produce containers that meet international standards. 

2. Origin and Intent

Shipping containers are standardised steel freight units that allow cargo to move between ships, railways and road vehicles without being unloaded and repacked. The most common sizes are 20-foot and 40-foot containers, while capacity is measured in Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). Their standardised design is central to modern multimodal and international trade. 

India’s growing manufacturing and trade activity has increased the demand for containerised cargo movement. However, the country currently imports nearly two million empty containers every year, both to meet domestic demand and for repositioning purposes. This dependence can expose Indian trade to global market fluctuations, freight-rate volatility and supply-chain disruptions. 

CMAS is intended to address this gap by encouraging domestic production and investment across the container manufacturing value chain. It complements broader initiatives such as Make in India, Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047 and multimodal logistics development, with the objective of strengthening India’s position in global maritime trade.

3. Key Amendments

CMAS is part of a wider effort to create an integrated and domestically anchored maritime ecosystem. The scheme provides capital assistance for greenfield manufacturing facilities, support for brownfield expansion, operational assistance to improve cost competitiveness, and support for testing infrastructure, skilling and capacity building. 

A related development was the signing of an MoU in February 2026 for the proposed Bharat Container Shipping Line (BCSL). The agreement brought together the Shipping Corporation of India, Container Corporation of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, V.O. Chidambaranar Port Authority, Chennai Port Authority and Sagarmala Finance Corporation Limited. 

This coordinated approach complements the Government’s wider logistics initiatives. These include:

• PM Gati Shakti, enhancing connectivity between ports, railways, highways and industrial centres
• The National Logistics Policy, supporting operational efficiency; and
• The Sagarmala Programme, promoting port-led development.

4. Impact

The scheme is expected to generate around 3,000 direct jobs and more than 50,000 indirect jobs across container manufacturing and related industries. It can also create demand for ancillary products and components, including corner castings, wooden frames and Corten steel, thereby supporting wider industrial activity. 

The initiative has already seen an important commercial milestone. In July 2026, India unveiled its first India-manufactured EXIM shipping container for A.P. Moller–Maersk at the Maersk–CONCOR Inland Container Depot in Dadri, Uttar Pradesh. The container was manufactured in accordance with internationally recognised ISO standards and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC). Maersk subsequently placed an order for 1,000 additional Made-in-India containers with DCM Shriram Group. 

The Government has also announced a ₹70,000 crore Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Package to strengthen domestic shipbuilding and encourage investment in maritime manufacturing. Together, these initiatives are intended to develop capabilities across shipbuilding, container manufacturing, shipping, ports and multimodal logistics. 

5. Conclusion

The Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme is aimed at addressing India’s dependence on imported shipping containers while creating a stronger domestic maritime manufacturing base. With a ₹10,000 crore allocation over five years and a target of increasing annual manufacturing capacity to up to 7.5 lakh TEUs, the scheme combines financial support with measures for technology, testing and skill development. 

Its proposed support covers:

• Capital assistance for greenfield manufacturing facilities; 
• Expansion support for brownfield units; 
• Operational support to improve the competitiveness of Indian manufacturers; and 
• Testing, skilling, research and capacity-building support.