Container Shortage and Rising Shipping Costs Severely Impact Tirupur's Textile Industry
2024-09-07 11:35:55
The textile industry in Tirupur is severely impacted by a shortage of containers and rising shipping costs
The textile export industry in Tirupur has been significantly impacted by a severe container shortage and a sharp increase in shipping costs over the past three months.
Shipping plays a vital role in garment exports, especially from Tirupur to key markets such as Europe, the UK, the USA, and Arab countries. Goods are primarily shipped through the ports of Tuticorin, Chennai, and Kochi, with Tuticorin handling about 80% of Tirupur's exports.
M P Muthurathinam, president of the Tirupur Exporters and Manufacturers Association, emphasized the importance of timely delivery in the export business. "Garments from Tirupur are transported by container trucks to Tuticorin, then shipped to Colombo, where they are transferred to larger vessels. However, the container shortage has severely disrupted this process, affecting the garment export business for the last three months. Three months ago, the cost of a 40-foot container was $1,700; it has now surged to $7,000 due to the shortage."
India relies heavily on China for containers, where production delays have further exacerbated the issue. Previously, containers returning from China with imported goods were refilled with exports. However, they are now frequently sent back empty, as shipping companies prioritize routes to Europe and the USA, where they earn higher profits.
An exporter noted that air freight costs are four times higher than sea freight, making shipping the preferred mode of transport. He stressed the need for India to start producing containers domestically. "The Union government should consider establishing public sector shipping firms to tackle the issue. Unfortunately, the Centre has not yet taken any significant steps in this direction. Export disruptions are treated as temporary, but they have long-term consequences on employment, trade, and foreign exchange earnings."
K M Subramanian, president of the Tirupur Exporters Association, pointed out that the rising shipping costs have forced businesses to increase the prices of their products, making it difficult to compete with countries like Bangladesh and Vietnam. "In Tirupur, 90% of textile players are micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), with only 10% being large companies. The burden of increased shipping costs is especially hard on these smaller enterprises."
