APSEZ to launch Empty Container Yard at Mundra Port in Gujarat
APSEZ Plans Dedicated Empty Container Yard at Mundra Port
Mundra Port is set to get a dedicated Empty Container Yard (ECY), as Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. (APSEZ) plans to bring the storage, inspection and movement of empty containers into a single operating area within the Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone.
The facility is expected to handle an estimated 1.6 million TEUs of empty containers a year. The plan comes as container traffic through Mundra continues to grow and shipping lines, exporters, customs authorities and transport operators deal with large volumes of containers moving through the port.
APSEZ said on 04 September 2026 that the new yard will provide services covering the empty-container cycle, including storage, maintenance, inspection and movement to exporters and Container Freight Stations (CFSs). The company may operate the yard itself or through partners, including CFS operators and shipping lines.
Empty containers are an essential part of international trade. After import cargo is removed, containers have to be stored, checked and moved to locations where exporters need them again. These movements can add time and transport costs when empty boxes have to travel between separate facilities.
At Mundra, the scale is considerable. APSEZ estimates that about 1.6 million TEUs of empty containers are handled at the port each year. One TEU refers to a standard 20-foot container, although shipping containers also come in larger sizes.
Mundra is already India’s largest container-handling port. APSEZ says Mundra handles nearly 35% of India’s container trade, while the company accounted for 45.5% of the country’s container market in FY26.
The wider growth of APSEZ’s container business has been visible in its recent financial results. The company reported a 45.5% share of India’s container market in FY25 as well, compared with about 44% in FY24. During FY25, container volumes across APSEZ’s network rose 20% year on year.
Mundra’s wider cargo business has also expanded. In FY25, the port became the first Indian port to handle more than 200 million tonnes of cargo in a single year. APSEZ’s FY26 operational data shows that its T2 container terminal at Mundra handled a record 1.48 million TEUs during the year, up from 1.22 million TEUs in FY25.
Those volumes put pressure on the systems that support container terminals. A container port needs space not only for boxes carrying cargo, but also for empty containers waiting for inspection, repairs, allocation or their next export movement.
The proposed ECY is intended to deal with that part of the process at the port itself.
The new arrangement will also operate within the Mundra Port SEZ, bringing the empty-container activity closer to the agencies and companies involved in the movement of international cargo.
This is relevant to Mundra because the port falls under the Ahmedabad Customs Zone, which has a separate Mundra Customs Commissionerate. The customs zone describes Mundra as one of the country’s largest container-handling ports and supervises a wider network of ports, Inland Container Depots (ICDs), CFSs and warehouses across Gujarat.
Customs procedures around Mundra have also been changing. In 2026, notices issued by Mundra Customs covered areas such as international transshipment, re-containerisation, risk-based vessel boarding and the implementation of the Sea Cargo Manifest and Transshipment Regulations.
Having empty-container operations in the port area could therefore reduce some of the physical movement involved in managing these boxes. APSEZ said the arrangement is intended to improve turnaround times, reduce unnecessary container movements and lower logistics costs.
“The dedicated Empty Container Yard at Mundra to be operated by APSEZ and/or partners (including CFS and shipping lines) will enhance efficiency across the container ecosystem by enabling faster turnaround times, reducing unnecessary container movements, and optimising logistics costs. Strengthening trade-enabling infrastructure remains central to APSEZ’s commitment towards supporting India’s growth and the vision of Viksit Bharat,” said Mr Ashwani Gupta, Whole-time Director and Chief Executive Officer, APSEZ.
The empty-container yard is linked to APSEZ’s longer-term plan to expand its container capacity. Under its Ambition 2031 roadmap, the company plans to add more than 6 million TEUs of container-handling capacity over the next five years.
APSEZ handled 500.8 million tonnes of cargo across its ports in FY26, compared with 450.2 million tonnes in FY25. Its container market share remained at 45.5% in both years, according to the company’s FY26 results.
The company is also expanding its logistics network beyond port terminals. Its FY26 results show growth in rail and other logistics services, while earlier projects included new logistics facilities and additional ICD operations.
For exporters and shipping companies, the practical question will be how quickly the new yard can move empty containers back into the supply chain. A container sitting unused takes up space and does not carry export cargo. Faster inspection, maintenance and allocation can help return it to service sooner.
For Mundra, the move comes as the port handles a growing share of India’s container trade. The new yard will add another piece to the infrastructure needed to keep containers moving through one of the country’s busiest gateways.
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