Indian Port Lifts Ban on Scrap Metal Imports

Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has revoked the temporary suspension of handling of import containers carrying iron and steel scrap at its port and its private terminal Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal following easing of congestion.

The decision follows a marginal decline in traffic handling at the port in the last two months due to the suspension of metal scrap handling. There have been requests to lift the restriction by several trade bodies, who claim there is no container backlog, a senior JN Port official said.

JN Port, which handles more than 58 percent of the country's container traffic, suspended handling of import containers of metal scrap in November in the wake of severe congestion.

Several of the groups that have requested the easing of restrictions include the Engineering Export Promotion Council, the Container Corporation of India Ltd., and the Federation of Freight Forwarders Association of India.