HMM, JNPA collaborate on India’s ambitious Vadhvan Port project

INDIA – South Korea’s HMM has joined hands with the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) to develop Vadhvan Port, an initiative that aims to place India among the top container port nations globally.

The partnership was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed recently.

Vadhvan Port, envisioned as a large-scale infrastructure project by the Indian government, is set to handle up to 23 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) annually by 2040.

With nine container terminals and a natural depth of 20 meters, deeper than the existing 15.5 meters at Nhava Sheva, the port is designed to accommodate HMM’s largest vessels, including 24,000 TEU ships.

“We hope this partnership leads to strong cooperation for port development. We will continue investing in terminals to grow our integrated logistics business, a key part of our mid-to-long-term strategy,” said an HMM official.

India’s rapid economic growth has positioned it as a critical market for global shipping companies. HMM is already expanding its operations in the region, with new services such as the India North Europe Express (INX), scheduled to begin in February, alongside its Far East-India Mediterranean (FIM) and India-America Express (IAX) routes.

This collaboration with JNPA is expected to further solidify HMM’s presence in India and strengthen its competitiveness in the global port business.

In parallel with these developments, India is advancing protocols to boost agricultural exports via sea routes.

This shift is designed to reduce costs and increase shipment volumes compared to air routes. The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) has been working with stakeholders to develop sea protocols for perishable goods, including bananas, mangoes, pomegranates, and jackfruit.

“The protocols encompass factors such as voyage time, scientific understanding of ripening processes, optimal harvesting times, and farmer training,” explained an official statement. Trial shipments of bananas are already underway to Rotterdam, Netherlands.

Currently, most exports of perishable goods occur through air routes due to lower volumes and varying ripening periods.

However, the cost-effectiveness of sea transportation and its ability to handle larger volumes make it a viable option for promoting agricultural exports.

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