India Approves Rs 10,000 Crore Scheme To Boost Domestic Shipping Container Manufacturing

The Union Cabinet approved the Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS), aimed at building domestic manufacturing capabilities and lessening India’s reliance on shipping container imports.

The Container Manufacturing Promotion Scheme (CMPS), previously known as the Container Manufacturing Assistance Scheme (CMAS), is backed by a total budget outlay of Rs 10,000 crore over 13 years up to FY 2039-40. The Scheme was approved on October 28, 2026.

Announced in the Union Budget 26-27, the CMPS aims to promote the establishment of new facilities, development of existing units, and development of testing infrastructure, skills and capacity to strengthen domestic manufacturing, Economic Times reports.

According to the Business Standard, the Centre aspires to expand the capacity of annual domestic container manufacturing by around ten-fold, which is up to 7.5 lakh TEUs. With an increase in India’s domestic production, CMPS aims to reduce dependence on imported containers and strengthen India’s supply chains.

A Press Release by the Press Information Bureau dated October 28, 2026 states the government’s belief that this scheme has the potential to generate various direct and indirect jobs.

About 3,000 direct jobs and more than 50,000 indirect jobs are believed to open up across container manufacturing and allied industries. CMPS will also extend support to ancillary industries like specialised steel, wooden frames, corner castings, and paints.

The scheme will offer interest subvention with an outlay of Rs 859 crore to help cover three per cent per annum on term loans availed for capital expenditure for establishing greenfield container manufacturing facilities and brownfield expansion of existing capacities. A financial outlay of Rs 150 crore is also provided to assist with common facilities like dynamic longitudinal impact testing.

India rolled out its first India-made export-import shipping container for A.P. Moller-Maersk. The container meets internationally recognised ISO standards and the International Convention for Safe Containers (CSC), which makes it fit for global shipping networks. Another notable milestone that represents India’s growing manufacturing capability was Maersk’s order for 1,000 Made-in-India shipping containers with DCM Shriram Group.

According to the PIB, the Government has approved a Rs 69,725 crore package to revitalise shipbuilding and the maritime sector, which includes the Shipbuilding Financial Scheme of Rs 24,736. The package strives to boost domestic shipbuilding capacity and encourage more maritime investment.

Progress is seen in more infrastructure projects at the International Container Transhipment Port at Galathea Bay, the Vadhavan Port, the Tuna Tekra Container Terminal, and the Outer Harbour Container Terminal at V.O. Chidambaranar Port.

The scheme will provide Operational Expenditure Assistance with a budget of Rs 8,891 crore as assistance for all containers manufactured following global shipping standards and sold by eligible container manufacturers.

During the Union Budget 2026-27 Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said that the CMPS scheme is a strong step towards reducing import dependence, building maritime self-reliance, reducing import dependence, and strengthening India’s logistics supply chain.