A dispute over empty-container handling charges at Indian ports is threatening to disrupt cargo operations, as customs brokers push back against carriers shifting fee collection to third-party depot operators and sharply raising lift-on/lift-off rates.

What Changed at Mundra

Maersk has raised its lift-on/lift-off charges for empty containers moving through Mundra port, India's busiest container gateway and a key access point for cargo heading to and from Delhi. Effective 1 November, the rate for a 20ft empty box rose from $23 to $51, while the 40ft rate went from $31 to $67, both figures excluding local taxes. Maersk has told customers to settle these charges directly with nominated depot service providers rather than through the carrier itself. Industry sources expect other container lines to issue similar notices for empty-box handling at Mundra, with at least one carrier confirming it is reviewing the matter.

Chennai Brokers Threaten Boycott of MSC

At Chennai port, the dispute has centred on MSC, which brokers say was first to route empty-container tariff collection through third-party depot vendors. The Chennai Customs Brokers Association (CCBA) says other carriers have since adopted similar arrangements. The association argues that handing tariff collection to outside vendors removes transparency and accountability, and has already seen those vendors raise charges repeatedly after taking over collection. The CCBA has set a deadline of 15 November for MSC to reverse the practice, warning it will otherwise call for a boycott of MSC shipments. It has also said it would take the same stance against any other carrier adopting comparable depot arrangements.

Pressure Building at JNPA Too

The practice is not confined to Mundra and Chennai. Sources say some carriers serving Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA, also known as Nhava Sheva) have likewise begun allowing nominated container yards to collect lift-on/lift-off charges directly from shippers. This has met resistance from the local cargo-handling community, suggesting the dispute could widen beyond the two ports currently in the spotlight.

Why Brokers Say They're Caught in the Middle

Customs brokers argue they are being squeezed from both sides. When third-party depots add charges to shipments, brokers often find themselves fronting those costs, only for exporters and importers to refuse reimbursement once the add-on charges appear on final bills. One forwarder noted that any increase in logistics costs eventually lands on the shipper, but the way it is billed through intermediaries makes it hard to track or dispute. An industry observer pointed out that this kind of fragmented fee collection runs counter to efforts by Indian logistics policymakers to simplify and standardise charges in the trade.

What This Means for Shippers and Cargo Owners

For shippers and forwarders moving cargo through Mundra, Chennai or JNPA, the immediate risk is higher and less predictable costs for empty-container handling, often billed separately from standard freight charges and harder to verify. Those shipping via MSC through Chennai should watch the 15 November deadline closely, as a broker boycott could affect booking and cargo movement if the dispute is not resolved. More broadly, importers and exporters should expect added charges tied to empty-box pickup and drop-off to appear on invoices from nominated depots rather than carriers directly, and should ask forwarders for a breakdown of these fees before confirming bookings. Given that similar changes are reportedly under discussion at other ports and by other carriers, shippers across India's main gateways should monitor trade notices from their carriers in the coming weeks, as further charge changes or operational disruption cannot be ruled out.

Sources: theloadstar.com