A huge backlog at Colombo port, currently used for transshipment of Indian goods containers, is resulting in feeder ships from India missing the mainline connectivity schedules Indian seafood exporters, especially from the southern region, may miss delivery of many overseas consignments for Christmas and New Year, thanks to shortage of empty refrigerated (reefer) containers and pile-up of boxes at Colombo Port.
Exporters of coir products too are facing a tough time executing export orders in the absence of dry containers.
The exporters depend on Colombo for transshipment of their containers to buyers in the US, EU, and the Far East, among other destinations. However, the huge backlog in that port after the workers’ strike and the rising number of Covid-19 cases has delayed operations, resulting in feeder ships with cargo from the southern part of India missing schedules of mainline connectivity.
The crisis has come at a time when the sector was able to get some export orders after the pandemic shrank the demand for marine products globally, said Alex K Ninan, president, Seafood Exporters Association of India Kerala Region.
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