Heavy cargo containers may be charged more

Indian importers may have to shell out more for bringing heavyweight containers through ports.

Shipping lines are contemplating a surcharge of $100 per twenty-foot container from June 11. This means all containers weighing more than 20 tonnes will be charged $100 extra.

A twenty-foot container has a volume of around 31 cubic metres and a payload of 18 tonnes. The weight of the container is around 2 tonnes. An importer cannot carry more than 18 tonnes in a container.

The Director of the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI), Sudhir S Rangnekar confirmed the planned move by the container shipping lines.

"If a vessel is carrying one heavy weight container, it has to drop two light weight containers. This is causing revenue loss to carriers," Rangnekar added.

Industry analysts say the levy will make metal scraps costlier. "Most import containers carrying metal scraps are found to be heavy weight boxes. Steel manufacturers are mainly bringing in metal scraps. Machinery imports also result in heavy weight cargoes," said an analyst.

Sources said the surcharge would also be applicable on export cargo in the future.