State-owned Container Corporation of India Ltd (CONCOR) is set to relaunch its coastal shipping services as part of its multi-modal logistics strategy, aiming to provide a more cost-effective, rapid, and eco-friendly transportation option. This initiative follows the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) in June 2024. The MoU seeks to combine CONCOR’s logistics infrastructure with SCI’s shipping capabilities to offer integrated, end-to-end logistics services.
Sanjay Swarup, CMD of CONCOR, highlighted the environmental benefits of coastal shipping, noting that the service was previously introduced in January 2019 but suspended in 2020 due to the pandemic. Swarup revealed that the coastal shipping operations will soon resume, connecting Gujarat with South India and extending to the eastern regions of the country. This move is expected to strengthen CONCOR’s logistics network and facilitate smoother transportation across key routes.
The partnership with SCI is poised to expand CONCOR’s international presence and explore coastal and inland waterway trades. Initial commodities for the coastal route include waste paper, ceramic tiles, sanitary ware, soda, cotton bales, and consumer durables.
CONCOR has also launched a logistics app to enhance first- and last-mile connectivity, which has seen significant success. Swarup reported that the first-mile, last-mile services generated Rs 82 crores in the first quarter of FY25, marking a 35% increase year-on-year. With a growth target of 50% for FY25, CONCOR is poised for significant expansion and development in its logistics services.
