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VOL No : 13 Issue No : 20 CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15- 2023 (Fortnightly) (1- 12 Pages) (( Rs. 60/-Per Issue )) One Year Subscription Rs.1600/- Page : 4 Govt has pipeline of 44 Port Page : 5 Finance Ministry approves disbursement... Page : 7 Delhi Airport Comes under Scanner Page : 9 PSA Mumbai achieves Record... Maersk to build 1st Green and Smart flagship Logistics centre in Lin-gang, Shanghai EXIM INDIA TIMES SHANGHAI : 15-01-2023 Maersk signed the Land Grant Contract with the administrative committee of Lingang new area of the Shanghai Free Trade Zone in late December 2022. This marks the official landing of Maersk’s first green and smart flagship logistics centre in China. With a total investment of 174 million US dollars, the project is expected to start operation in Q3,2024. Covering an area of approximately 113,000 sqm, the Lingang flagship logistics centre is designed to have a warehousing storage of 150,000 sqm, comprising four ramped 3-storey high standard warehouses and one 24-metre-high warehouse with automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). It will provide customers with a wide range of integrated logistics services, including international export consolidation, regional and global order fulfillment and distribution, cross border e-commerce and other value-added logistics services. Continued on page - 3

EXPORT IMPORT NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 2

EXPORT IMPORT NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 3 MAWANI : New Shipping Service to Connect Jubail Commercial Port to Mundra & Hazira Maersk to build 1st Green and... India has potential to become World Leader in Footwear : Piyush Goyal Hapag-Lloyd‘s Record Handing of “Specials – ODC” Cargo on India Europe Express Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Textiles, Shri Piyush Goyal said India has the potential to become a world leader in Footwear and leather sector with the efforts of both Government and industry. He was addressing the gathering at the Council for Leather Exports National Export Excellence Award function in New Delhi. In his address to the awardees, Shri Goyal asked the organisers to explore the possibility of encouraging new companies, entrepreneurs, startups and those who come up with innovative ideas, enter into uncharted territory with newer markets and products, by recognizing them through these awards. He suggested some niche award segments can be created for recognizing their contribution- such as rewarding those who make effective use of FTAs etc. The Minister said as we celebrate Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, we hope to achieve higher exports than last year – both in goods and services. He said while most of the developed world, who are large consumers of leather products, are going through inflation and subdued consumer spending, he was happy to get reassurance from Leather sector that it would see higher growth compared to last year. Shri Goyal noted the concerns of the Leather Industry about import duties on certain types of Leather and assured that it will be taken up for consideration. The Saudi Ports Authority (Mawani) has announced the addition of Jubail Commercial Port to the India to East Med shipping service by MSC (Mediterranean Shipping Company). With the arrival of container vessel MSC ELLEN, the Saudi ports sector is set to welcome yet another trade link from leading shipping lines who are increasingly choosing the Kingdom as a vital port of call given its strategic location at the crossroads of three major continents besides being home to world class logistics infrastructure. The new service will connect the Kingdom to Turkey, the Indian Subcontinent, Africa, and the Middle East via weekly sailings to the ports of Khalifa, Jebel Ali, Hamad, Karachi, Mundra, Hazira, Alexandria, Tekirdag, Aliaga, Mersin, and King Abdullah on board five vessels that have an average carrying capacity of 8,000 TEUs. The latest route will play a pivotal role in positioning Jubail Commercial Port as a competitive hub and uncover a EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES MUMBAI : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES RIYADH: 15-01-2023 Hapag-Lloyd’s Area India Special Cargo team and Chennai Port, by breaking their own previous record for the handing of Specials – ODC Cargo , reached a new milestone . On the vessel M.V. Al Manamah VIA 22433, as part of the India Europe express service, Hapag-Lloyd team successfully and safely handled 87 units, or 164 TEUs, of these 64 units and 127 TEUs were exported. On the same ship, a Break bulk shipment weighing 59 MT was released. With this and other such movements, Hapag-Lloyd continues to collaborate with customers to adequately meet their particular cargo requirements for destinations around the world. host of value-added opportunities for importers, exporters, and shipping lines in line with the objectives of the National Transport and Logistics Strategy (NTLS). Modernly equipped to handle vessels of all shapes and sizes, Jubail Commercial Port provides a cost-effective and efficient gateway for local industries to export their products to global markets and import their raw materials. It also serves as a key driver of Saudi foreign trade besides bolstering economic growth in the Eastern Region. “Maersk is continuously enhancing its logistics capabilities to offer integrated end-to-end solutions to customers worldwide. Shanghai plays a critical role for Maersk global network. With Lin-gang’s proximity to Yangshan port and its favorable free trade policies, our flagship logistics centre will provide agile and sustainable solutions, connecting and simplifying our customers’ supply chains. We will continue to invest in China, contributing to Shanghai’s position as a global leading shipping and logistics centre, and the resilience of global supply chains, said Caroline Wu, Managing Director of Maersk Greater China. The flagship facility will apply for the highest platinum level certification of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It will use advanced environmental-friendly materials in construction and be equipped with a rainwater management system and solar panels to optimize efficiency on water and energy consumption. Upon completion, to further improve the environmental footprint, the new facility will be equipped with LED lighting, nature ventilation, non-fossil energy heating systems and electric vehicle and equipment charging piles. Continued from page - 1

SHIPPING NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 4 Govt has pipeline of 44 Port projects worth Rs 22,900 cr till FY ‘25: Sarbananda Sonowal EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI: : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES MUMBAI : 15-01-2023 Public-private partnership in port infrastructure has been an important source of investment in the sector and the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (MoPSW) has a pipeline of 44 projects for total investment of Rs 22,900 crore till 2024-25, Union Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said recently. Moreover, the Government is working on the guidelines for dealing with stressed public-private partnership (PPP) projects at Major Ports and has also come up with policies to support the shipbuilding industry in India, Sonowal said. “The Ministry of Port, Shipping and Waterways is working on two fronts to encourage private sector participation... On the project front the Ministry has a pipeline of 44 projects for a total investment of Rs 22,900 crore till 2024-25.” On the policy front, the Ministry is working on the Guidelines for dealing with stressed PPP projects at Major Ports, Sonowal said. The Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister further said that under the National Monetization Pipeline (NMP), MoPSW has accorded approval to 22 projects worth Rs 12,222 crore. Out of the 22 projects, seven projects worth Rs 5,278 crore have already been awarded on PPP mode, rest projects are in various stages of bidding, he added. According to him, the Ministry is also working on the Captive Policy and Migration Policy (to new MCA and Tariff regime) to improve the ease of doing business and provide a conducive environment for private sector investments in the port sector. Sonowal said under the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, MoPSW has identified 101 projects worth Rs 56,831 crore for implementation by 2024. “Out of these, 13 projects worth Rs 4,423 crore have been completed,” he said, adding that 9 projects worth Rs 716 crore are expected to be completed by March 2023. The Ports, Shipping and Waterways ministry has identified 9 High Impact Projects (HIP) and these have been uploaded in the Project Monitoring Group (PMG) portal and are being monitored at the Cabinet Secretariat level. Three HIP projects are already completed, he added. Sonowal further said, apart from completing port modernisation and port connectivity projects, the Ministry is expediting various projects under the Sagarmala programme related to RoRo/Ropax and passenger jetty facilities, and fishing harbor projects to improve the connectivity and livelihood of people living in coastal areas. He said National Maritime Heritage Complex (NMHC) at Lothal is being Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s best-performing Port, has had an ongoing surge in cargo handling in CY 2022 with total co Exporters grant Gold Award to GAC Sri Lanka developed as one of its kind projects to display India’s rich and diverse maritime heritage and the project is currently under implementation and all efforts are being undertaken to complete the first phase of this project by the end of 2023. Sonowal said 191 port connectivity projects have been identified after coordination with the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Railways Ministries under Sagarmala which are in various stages of implementation and development. Replying to a question on demand for restoration of subsidy for moving goods through Inland waterways in the NorthEast region, Sonowal said the earlier scheme of subsidy for moving goods through Inland waterways in the NorthEast region, was launched by Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MoCI) which was closed on March 31, 2022. “However, in order to promote this mode of transport and to meet first mile, last mile and multiple handling of cargo issues while transporting through IWT mode, MoPSW will take up the matter for restoration of the scheme with MoCI for promoting the movement of goods through Inland waterways in the NorthEast region,” he said. The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) of Sri Lanka has presented GAC with the ‘Gold Award’ in the ‘Large’ category in ‘Business & Professional Services - Export Sector’ at its recent awards ceremony. The prize recognises the company’s standing as the country’s leading export agent in the category focusing on organisations with an annual export turnover between 500 million up to 1.5 billion Rupees. Now in its 29th year, the NCE Export Awards ceremony is the flagship event in the Sri Lankan business calendar, designed to recognise and reward outstanding performance of the country’s exporters. Turbulent times GAC Sri Lanka’s Director / CEO Ravi Edirisinghe welcomed the accolade, adding: “Winning Gold at the NCE’s Annual Export Awards is a significant achievement for us, especially during such turbulent times where the exports sector’s contribution to the stability of the economy has become increasingly more important. “GAC is committed to growing and expanding its services despite the difficult business environment, to ensure the vitality of the country’s shipping & maritime services sector.” Market leader Established in 1993 as a joint venture between Gulf Agency Company and McLarens Holdings Limited, GAC Sri Lanka is the only shipping agent established in all four of the nation’s major ports (Colombo, Galle, Hambanthota and Trincomalee) with their own offices and staff expertised in a wide range of marine and shipping services. The ISO 45001 and TRACE certified company is the market leader in ship agency, ship-to-ship transfers and other related maritime activities in Sri Lanka. GAC Sri Lanka also offers a range of services tailored to the needs of maritime operations, including ship agency, port clearance, documentary & husbandry services, protecting agency, bunker fuel supplies, chartering, emergency response, ship-to-ship transfers, oil & gas logistics, rig handling, naval logistics, provision of fresh water, provisions, bonded stores and spares, underwater hull & propeller cleaning, underwater inspections, and medical evacuation, assistance & repatriation. It serves all types of vessels, from tankers, bulkers and container vessels through to RoRo, cruise and naval ships as well as oil & gas, offshore supply and survey vessels. J awaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA), India’s best-performing Port, has had an ongoing surge in cargo handling in CY 2022 with total container traffic of 5,959,112 TEUs as against 5,631,949 TEUs in CY 2021 growth of 5.81% over last calendar year. JNPA handled 81.1 Million Metric Tonnes (MMT) of cargo in CY 2022 as against 76.1 MMT in CY 2021 growth of 6.55% over the previous calendar year. The total traffic of 81.1 MMT and container traffic of 5,959,112 million TEUs is the highest-ever traffic handled in a year since the inception of the Port. Appreciating the employees and stakeholders for their dedicated hard work in port performance, Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPA, said, “The year 2022 was phenomenal for JNPA as we achieved the milestone of handling the highest ever traffic in Port.” “The performance of all our terminal operators is noteworthy. Besides, in 2022, we became India’s best-performing Port, the first 100% landlord Major Port, and being acclaimed with various prestigious awards. I would like to thank all the stakeholders and employees for their relentless support and efforts to better our Port’s performance every day and contribute to JNPA’s success story,” Shri Sanjay Sethi, IAS, Chairman, JNPA said.

SHIPPING NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 5 EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI: : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI : 15-01-2023 Finance Ministry approves disbursement of more than Rs. 4,000 crore to States for PM Gati Shakti Projects MoRTH to award 15 Port connectivity projects in Q4 FY ‘23 The Department of Expenditure under the Ministry of Finance has approved disbursement of over Rs. 4,000 crores to states for undertaking various infrastructure projects, which conform to the principles and objectives of PM Gati Shakti Mission. The disbursements are part of ‘Scheme for Special Assistance to the States for Capital Investment for 2022-23’ which was unveiled in April by the Ministry of Finance and operated by the Department of Expenditure. The scheme seeks to provide assistance to the states with a total allocation of Rs. 1 lakh crores in the form of 50-year interest free loan for capital investments. According to a senior official, the total allocation earmarked for State projects under the scheme which conform to PM Gati Shakti framework is Rs. 5,000 crores. All 28 states have submitted about 190 projects amounting to about Rs. 5,000 crores. “Post April, after the notification, we have considered more than 190 projects from 28 States of value more than Rs. 5,000 crores total and these projects have been recommended to the Department of Expenditure for approval and disbursement of funds to the respective states as per their share,” Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary (Logistics Division), Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade, Ministry of Commerce and Industry was quoted as saying recently. The logistics division at DPIIT is spearheading the PM Gati Shakti Mission which is aiming for the development of seamless multimodal connectivity and logistics infrastructure in the Country. A special screening committee was constituted within the DPIIT, which evaluated whether the 190 odd projects submitted by the states were in conformity with the principles and objectives of PM Gati Shakti and they were recommended to the Ministry of Finance. “They (Department of Expenditure) have given approval to most of them. They have considered all 191 proposals and some of them have been cleared and to the extent of more than Rs. 4,000 crores have already been approved by the Department of Expenditure for disbursement among the states,” said Dr. Ahirwar. Among the states, allocation to Andhra Pradesh is at Rs. 202 crores, Bihar at Rs. 500 crores, Chattisgarh at Rs. 170 crores, Gujarat at Rs. 174 crores, Haryana at Rs. 55 crores, Jharkhand at Rs. 165 crores. According to the scheme, for alignment with PM Gati Shakti framework, states need to undertake updation of required data layers on PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan portal, such as land revenue maps, formulate state logistics policy, creation of Empowered Group of Secretaries, Network Planning Group and Technical Support Unit. Guiding principles for selection of eligible projects include logistics efficiency and resilience, integrated planning approach, unity of economic clusters, projects aiming at faster movement of goods, among others. According to Dr. Ahirwar, projects submitted by the States include connectivity infrastructure to industrial zones, data centers, inland container depots, container freight stations, critical infrastructure around economic zones, warehousing development, food parks, traffic management system, among others. As per the scheme, while allocation for PM Gati Shakti focused projects is limited to Rs. 5,000 crores out of total Rs. 1 lakh crores, additional amount from savings under other parts of the scheme may also be reallocated to PM Gati Shakti focused projects based on response of states and utilization of fund. “Then it is up to the Ministry of Finance to consider because they have said in case there is great merit in the projects and there are funds spared under the scheme from other heads, then it can be allocated to this particular kitty,” said Dr. Ahirwar. The other parts, in which the Rs. 1 lakh crore interest free loan is distributed includes funding for PM Gram Sadak Yojana, incentives for digitization, optical fibre cable network, urban reforms and capital works. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) will award 15 port connectivity projects with total length of 352 km in Q4FY23, and 17 more with length of 474 km in Q1FY24, an official said. Currently, 55 port connectivity projects with a total length of 2,772 km are being undertaken by the ministry. The projects that are to be awarded in the current fiscal include four-laning of Kakinada Anchorage Port-Uppada beach road connecting NH-16 in East Godavari district (41 km) with a total cost of Rs 1,394 crore; construction of six-lane road to Krishnapatnam Port from Naidupeta in Andhra Pradesh (Pkg-IV) ( 35 km) at Rs 1,399 crore; and four to eight-laning of NH-53 connecting Paradip port (77km) at Rs 3,600 crore. In Q1FY24, projects to be awarded include four-laning of the road from Nellore city to Krishnapatnam port to NH 5 (24 km) at a total cost of Rs 700 crore; road connectivity to Dhamra port (four-laning of Jamujhadi Dhamra road) (58 km) at Rs 1,148 crore; and road connectivity from Cuddalore port to NH-45A with RC overbridge at a total cost of Rs 125 crore. In addition, the Ministry has identified 61 projects with a total length of 1,264 km as a part of the Port Connectivity Master Plan. So far, the ministry has completed 11 major port connectivity projects and six to eight-laning of NH-4B- SH54 and Amra Marg (44 km) to Jawaharlal Nehru Port Terminal, road connectivity of Visakhapatnam port trust to NH-16 -Phase II (4 km); and six-laning of Pune-Satara section of NH 4 (140 km) at JNPT. In Q1FY24, projects to be awarded include four-laning of the road from Nellore city to Krishnapatnam port to NH 5 (24 km) at a total cost of Rs 700 crore; road connectivity to Dhamra port (four-laning of Jamujhadi Dhamra road) (58 km) at Rs 1,148 crore; and road connectivity from Cuddalore port to NH45A with RC overbridge at a total cost of Rs 125 crore. Schedule Reliability continues its Upward Trend : Sea – Intelligence EXIM INDIA TIMES COPENHAGEN: : 15-01-2023 Global schedule reliability improved by 4.7 percentage points M/M in November 2022 and reached 56.6%. The average delay for LATE vessel arrivals has also been improving consistently since the start of the year. In November 2022, average delay improved once again, dropping by another -0.58 days M/M to 5.04 days. Both schedule reliability and average delay are now better than the 2020 level as well. With schedule reliability of 63.4%, MSC was the most reliable carrier in November 2022, followed by Maersk with 61.7%. They were the only carriers above 60%. The next 8 carriers recorded schedule reliability of 50%-60%, while 4 carriers recorded schedule reliability of 40%-50%. Yang Ming recorded the lowest schedule reliability of 42.5%. Apart from Yang Ming, all of the top-14 carriers recorded a M/M improvement in schedule reliability, whereas all carriers recorded a double-digit Y/Y improvement in schedule reliability, with 12 carriers recording improvements of over 20 percentage points.

connectivity. MoRTH is working to enhance the ports logistics ecosystem by connecting Major & Minor Ports with National Highways, with NHLML spearheading this endeavour. The programme has been envisioned to connect all Major Ports, Non-Major Ports as well as inland waterway terminals in the country to create an integrated network to support efficient and unhindered freight movement. As many as 52 critical infrastructure gap projects identified by MoPSW for connecting Maritime Ports and IWTs (Inland Waterway Terminals) to be taken up under PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan. Currently, DPR of total 56 projects (including 11 IWT projects) under this category with total of 1215 km length are under bidding stage for the feasibility assessment of these projects, which is being carried out by NHAI.

CUSTOMS NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 7 Delhi Airport Comes under Scanner EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI : 15-01-2023 Union Home Secretary held a high-level meeting in with the major stakeholders to review streamlining of infrastructure at Delhi airport. The Secretary, Ministry of Civil Aviation; Chairman, AAI; DG, BCAS; Bureau of Immigration, Delhi Police, DIAL GMR which runs the airport and security agencies attended the meeting. Though congestion issue has become a major problem in all Metropolitan airports besides Bengaluru and Hyderabad, the high level meeting confined discussion to Delhi airport. The meeting was informed that a steady ramping up of capacities had taken place since the last review meeting held on December 15th. Many important steps have been taken including Close monitoring and revised scheduling of air slots has reduced incidents of bunching of flights. Additional counters have been made functional along with posting of adequate manpower to facilitate quick immigration clearance. Baggage scanners have been increased by doubling up the capacity in domestic bay. Immigration counter area has been de-cluttered. Delhi Police has increased deployment for the traffic lane management. It was also informed that on the basis of a Stakeholder Committee evaluation, the DIAL GMR has revised a modern layout plan for the Immigration Bay. This is likely to be completed in three months, without causing any disruptions in the present immigration clearance time. The proposal includes setting up of Documentation and Biometrics booths in Walkways to avoid cluttering in the Immigration Bay. Union Home Secretary assured to coordinate and requested the stakeholders to maintain the pace in streamlining the departure and arrivals in Delhi airports. Industry sources said nearly 80 per cent of the international flights including countries in south East Asia emanated from either Delhi or Mumbai while other airports are underutilized. This Delhi centric aviation industry growth also caused problems in the capital’s airport. Cross-border Rupee trade has huge potential: RBI Governor Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Shaktikanta Das has said rupee settlement for cross-border trade has huge potential and added that the central bank has initiated talks with some nations in South Asia to facilitate such trade. “We are already in discussions with some of the countries in this region to facilitate rupee settlement of cross-border trade in the South Asian region. So, that can be another area which has a very big potential in the years to come,” he said. Das was speaking at an event organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in New Delhi. Other than rupee settlement, RBI is also keen on linking of UPI for cross-border transactions, the RBI governor said, adding that India has already signed agreements with the neighbouring countries of Nepal and Bhutan. Going ahead, the recently launched the central bank digital currency (CBDC) can also be explored for cross-border transactions, Das added. However, RBI will move cautiously in allowing CBDC for use in cross-border transactions as risks of cloning may arise, he said. EXIM INDIA TIMES MUMBAI : 15-01-2023

PORTS NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 8 Indian Ports end 2022 on a promising note as box volumes stay resilient EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI: : 15-01-2023 Countrywide box volumes (including major and minor ports) in December stood at 1.7 million TEUs, a 5.9% increase month-on-month. Of this, by port, Nhava Sheva (Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, or JNPA) contributed 522,035 TEUs, up 10% from 473,104 TEUs in November. Adani Ports (APSEZ) – which has a network of minor, non-government terminals on the east and west coasts of India – reported noticeable traction in container handling last month. Its countrywide port/terminal locations cumulatively moved in/out 712,864 TEUs, versus 693,624 TEUs in November, a gain of nearly 3%. APSEZ’s flagship Mundra Port racked up 549,432 TEUs last month, up from 529,234 TEUs in November. Chennai Port in southern India ended last month with 117,749 TEUs, a slight drop from 124,543 TEUs in November. At Cochin Port, which operates India’s only dedicated transshipment facility, known as Vallarpadam Terminal or DP World Cochin, container throughput soared to 62,534 TEUs from 55,776 TEUs in November. December volumes at Tuticorin Port (V.O. Chidambaranar) stood at 61,319 TEUs, surging from 49,105 TEUs in the month-ago period. Visakhapatnam Port handled 41,952 TEUs last month, as against 42,223 TEUs in November, while Kolkata Port saw 48,382 TEUs, versus 47,872 TEUs in November. For the whole of 2022, Nhava Sheva Port through its five box terminals reported a new throughput high of 5.95 million TEUs, up 5.8% year over year, according to port data. The analysis also indicates Mundra Port continues to have a lead over Nhava Sheva, mainly powered by its transshipment loads. Meanwhile, Nhava Sheva Freeport Terminal (NSFT), which recently won a tender to modernise and operate Nhava Sheva’s oldest box facility JNPCT, is set to commence operations early next month. NSFT is a joint venture between Mumbai-based JM Baxi Group and CMA Terminals. Kochi Port Tops in Maintenance Dredging among Major Ports According to statistics available with the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, around 72.5 million cubic metres (MCUM) was dredged at the port followed by Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, Mumbai, (50.16 MCUM), Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Authority, Kolkata, (25.6 MCUM), and Paradip Port Authority, Odisha, (21.21 MCUM). Maintenance dredging assumes significance as port administrations need to spend a huge amount for dredging and disposal of dredged material. As per figures, around 24 MCUM of dredging is done annually at the Kochi Port for maintenance of channels, making it one of the most expensive ports in the country in terms of annual maintenance cost. Though it is one of the serious problems faced by the ports along EXIM INDIA TIMES KOCHI : 15-01-2023 the east and west coasts in the country in terms of operational and environmental concerns, the quantity of silt to be dredged will vary from port to port depending upon its geographic location and draft required to be maintained for the passage of vessels, according to senior officer close to the Cochin Ports Authority. Here in the case of Cochin Port, the annual maintenance dredging is relatively high recently compared to other major ports. First, it is situated in a tidal estuary where tidal forces such as flood tide and ebb tide are the predominantly acting on the port basin. The presence of marine clay along the river mouth is posing serious challenges along with the silt deposited by the Periyar River in harbour basin. However, the cost involved for the maintenance dredging is significantly low here as marine clay has a significant amount of water and the tonnage of silt in marine clay is about fifty per cent lower than other dredged materials such as sand. Further, the Cochin Port has spent around ₹120-140 crore for the annual maintenance dredging, which is not a big deal considering the 40-million tonne cargo it handles per year, said the sources. In the proposed Vizhinjam international seaport, the maintenance dredging is anticipated almost nil due to its natural drift while it has to undertake a capital dredging of 7 MCUM to arrange infrastructure facilities.

PORTS NEWS CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 9 PSA Mumbai achieves Record Throughput of 1.584 Mn TEUs in CY ‘22; Rises 35% YoY Automobile exports from Chennai and Kamarajar Ports EXIM INDIA TIMES MUMBAI : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES CHENNAI : 15-01-2023 PSA Mumbai clocked record annual throughput of 1.584 Million TEUs for the year 2022 with 35% YOY growth, informed a recent communique from PSA Mumbai. “We thank JNPA- Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority, our Customers, Customs and other stakeholders for the support extended,” added the communique. PSA Mumbai is located in Jawaharlal Nehru Port (JNP) in Maharashtra, India’s largest and premier container gateway. The terminal is equipped with the latest technology to offer customers fast turnaround of their vessels and is also well-connected by major highways and rail networks to key markets in Maharashtra, Gujarat, and the National Capital Region of India. It serves the important industrial and manufacturing centres and cities in Northwest India, as well as India’s largest hinterland with a population in excess of 400 million. The two Major Ports in Chennai collectively handled the export of almost 3.64 lakh vehicles to various countries during the calendar year (CY) 2022, recording an increase of 26 per cent year-on-year. While Chennai Port Trust (ChPT) exported 2.23 lakh cars, mostly those made by Hyundai Motor India, against 1.65 lakh units in CY21, Kamarajar Port Ltd. (KPL) shipped 1.41 lakh vehicles (1.25 lakh). With the present numbers, the car export volumes from ChPT had crossed the 2,00,000 mark once again, while that of KPL declined from a similar level on account of COVID-19, said a leading logistics provider. There has been an increase in car exports from Chennai Port. Some of the automobile firms have signed long-term contracts with us and some are coming up for renewals,” said Sunil Paliwal, Chairman, ChPT and CMD of KPL in an interview. Maruti Suzuki had entered into a pact with KPL recently to export about 20,000 passenger vehicles annually to various destinations such as Africa, Middle East, Latin America, ASEAN and SAARC regions. During the year, Nissan and Renault exported 81,000 vehicles from KPL, followed by Ford India 28,400, Isuzu Motors 17,400, Daimler India 5,800, Toyota Kirloskar 105 and others 8,000 units. In the case of ChPT, Hyundai Motor has a long-term contract and exported about 1,45,300 vehicles followed by Kia Motors India 76,910 and Ford India 555 unit. Till a few years back, there was stiff competition between ChPT and KPL in terms of exports and the latter had an upper hand. But things changed after the acquisition of KPL by ChPT and due to COVID. Both the ports are now headed by the same IAS officer. From January to December, 47 Roll-on Roll-off (RORO) vessels visited ChPT. In the month of December, it handled as many as 26,000 cars. PSA Mumbai Phase 1 development has a quay length of 1000 metres and the deepest berths at JNP, capable of handling super post-panamax vessels. When fully completed, the terminal will have a berth length of 2,000 metres.

CHENNAI, JANUARY, 15-2023 10 COSCO SHIPPPING Logistics makes all-out effort to ensure food security through better service China Energy places order to import Australian coal, sources say EXIM INDIA TIMES NEW DELHI : 15-01-2023 EXIM INDIA TIMES BIEJING : 15-01-2023 CUSTOMS NEWS Relying on its port resources, COSCO SHIPPING Logistics has been promoting the innovation of transportation mode through innovative measures for the management, service, and marketing of bulk grain logistics business with a view to maintaining an unimpeded channel for food transportation to safeguard national food security. More efficient food transportation through platform-based operations Recently, COSCO SHIPPING BFT Logistics (Yingkou) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of COSCO SHIPPING Logistics, successfully completed the transfer and shipment of 1,136 trucks, 316 trains and 160 containers of grain through close cooperation with port terminals, truck fleets, railroads, and customers. By o v e r c o m i n g various problems caused by the mixed application of transportation modes and simultaneous stock-in and stock-out operations, the company formulated a specialized operation solution, which helped it transship more than 70,000 tons of grain in different operational modes within five days. By taking advantage of its platform-based operation to integrate all kinds of logistics resources and reduce grain circulation costs, BFT Logistics is able to provide customers with integrated grain logistics solutions with full traceability from the place of origin to the transportation hub and destination of marketing, and open up logistics channels from Northeast China to South China and Southwest China. Relying on its independently designed and developed intelligent business system, BFT Logistics improved the efficiency of field operation by nearly 30% to greatly increase its transshipment operation capacity. Meanwhile, the application of the intelligent business system also enabled customers to learn about the cargo status, operation data and vehicle information in real time, so that they could promptly adjust the operation plan according to the actual situation with higher communication efficiency. The service offered by BFT Logistics was highly praised and recognized by the customers. In two and a half months, since the harvest of autumn grain in Northeast China this year, BFT Logistics has transshipped 760,000 tons of grain to various ports in the south through its platform, with a monthly average transit volume of 300,000 tons. By early December, it has transshipped more than 1.9 million tons of grain this year, an increase of 35% year-over-year. China Energy Investment Corp has placed an order to import Australian coal, three sources familiar with the matter said on Friday, 6 Jan, in one of the first deals since Beijing eased an unofficial ban imposed on coal imports from Australia in 2020. The move comes as relations between Beijing and Canberra are thawing, and as China is trying to meet growing demand for coal because of higher power consumption following the easing of coronavirus-related restrictions. Australia was China’s second-largest coal supplier before the unofficial ban, which came into force as diplomatic ties broke down in 2020. Coal cargoes shipped from Australia to China, which had accounted for nearly a quarter of all Australian coal supplies in 2019, fell to nearly zero in 2021 and 2022. Global prices of both coking and thermal coal shot up after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine last year. Major buyers such as China and India responded by boosting coal purchases from Russia, which offered steep discounts. Analysts and traders expect the return of Australian coal to challenge the market share of suppliers such as Russia and add to pressure on prices in the longer term. Entry of Australian coal into Chinese markets could ease coking coal prices, which are currently on the higher side,” an Indian coal trader said.

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