Lost At Sea

Despite sailing in a covid-battered economy, India’s exports of organic food products like tea, pulses, sugar, spices, to name a few, increased by 51% Y-O-Y to $1Bn in 2020-21, the commerce ministry revealed on Tuesday. On another good note, the commerce ministry launched a covid-19 helpdesk in a bid to resolve issues faced by the trading community. Be it problems such as delays in customs clearance, import and export licensing etc., the facility which started on Monday promises to provide guidance and support to traders in these tough times.

As per the data published by the World Shipping Council, containers falling overboard rose at an all-time seven-year high in 2020 with already around 1,000 cargo boxes being lost at sea in 2021. Experts believe changing weather patterns, increasing urgency of shipping lines to deliver products on time are some of the factors causing this mishap. Moreover, the trade ministers from India, Japan and Australia interacted virtually and launched The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative to brainstorm joint measures aimed at reducing reliance on China.

India's organic food products exports rise 51% to USD 1bn in 2020-21

The country's exports of organic food products rose by 51 per cent year-on-year to USD 1 billion (Rs 7,078 crore) in 2020-21, the commerce ministry said on Tuesday.

Commerce ministry starts COVID-19 helpdesk to resolve import, export issues

The commerce ministry on Monday said it has started a COVID-19 helpdesk to help resolve issues of exporters and importers pertaining to international trade such as customs clearance delays and banking matters. The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), an arm of the ministry, took this initiative to monitor the status of exports and imports, and difficulties being faced by trade stakeholders in view of the surge in COVID-19 cases.

Shipping Containers Plunge Overboard as Supply Race Raises Risks

Containers piled high on giant vessels carrying everything from car tires to smartphones are toppling over at an alarming rate, sending millions of dollars of cargo sinking to the bottom of the ocean as pressure to speed deliveries raises the risk of safety errors.

Amid Covid-19 pandemic, exports could come as a saviour for India

The alarming rise in Covid-19 infections in recent weeks and partial lockdowns and restrictions in many parts of the country have increased uncertainty regarding the pace of economic revival.

China wary as India, Australia, Japan push supply chain resilience

The Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI) formally launched on Tuesday by the Trade Ministers of India, Japan and Australia brought a wary response from China, which has described the effort as ‘unrealistic’.