Empty container yard operations at Mundra Port have resumed after operators called off a 13-day strike that disrupted container movements at India’s largest commercial port.
According to Indian media reports, the Mundra Empty Container Yards & Allied Services Provider Association (MECYASA) informed stakeholders that operations would resume following negotiations involving industry stakeholders and government officials.
Operations reportedly restarted on 10 September, bringing an end to a dispute that had affected empty container movements since late August.
The dispute followed changes to the handling of empty containers at Mundra Port and Special Economic Zone.
External empty container yard operators suspended services from 28 August after Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) moved to restrict empty container nominations to designated facilities within the port SEZ.
As Container News previously reported, Hapag-Lloyd warned that the disruption had suspended empty container allotments for factory stuffing and empty container gate-ins at affected yards.
Container Freight Station stuffing and gate-in operations remained unaffected.
The disruption later widened when container transporters stopped collecting empty containers, increasing pressure on container flows through the port.
Several rounds of discussions between the parties took place before the operators agreed to resume services.
The dispute came as APSEZ moved ahead with a new dedicated Empty Container Yard within Mundra Port and SEZ.
According to APSEZ, the facility is designed to provide storage, maintenance, inspection and movement services for empty containers within the port ecosystem.
The company said the model is expected to reduce unnecessary container movements, improve turnaround times and strengthen safety and regulatory compliance.
Mundra handles approximately 1.6 million TEUs of empty containers annually and accounts for nearly 35% of India’s container trade, according to APSEZ.
The end of the strike is expected to ease pressure on empty container movements and restore normal operations for exporters, importers, transporters and other businesses using the Mundra container gateway.
