“The trade advisory will apply to all terminals operated by APSEZ and including third party terminals at any APSEZ port, till further notice,” the Adani Group company further added.
Last month, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) – Gandhidham had seized two containers containing some 38 bags that were mis-declared as ‘semi-processed talc stones’ originating from Afghanistan, which had arrived from Bandar Abbas Port, Iran.
The two containers were suspected to be carrying narcotics and therefore were seized. A case was registered by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on September 13. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) recently took over the investigation of the case relating to the seizure of narcotics from Mundra Port.
Besides Mundra, other port terminals operated by APSEZ which handle containerised cargo include Hazira port in Gujarat in addition to Krishnapatnam in Andhra Pradesh; Kattupalli and Ennore in Tamil Nadu; Dighi Port in Maharashtra and Vizhinjam in Kerala.
According to data by Director General of Commercial Intelligence and Statistics, 24,483 tonne of imports from Afghanistan and Iran were handled at the Mundra Port from January to December 2020.
Items imported from Afghanistan included fresh fruits, spices, processed fruits and juices, granite, natural stone and ayurvedic and herbal products. Sources however said that imports from Afghanistan have near-stopped after its takeover by Taliban. Similarly, imports from Pakistan too have reduced dramatically after a 200% duty was imposed by the Indian government, said freight forwarders.
Imports from Iran include groundnut, fresh fruits and vegetables, processed fruits and juices, cereal preparations, bulk mineral and ores, processed minerals, rubber products, inorganic chemicals, petroleum products, glass and glassware, plastic raw materials, ceramics and allied products, among others. However, EXIM (export-import) trade with Iran and Afghanistan continues.
“After such an announcement, most of the cargo can be handled from the Kandla port as well which will not attract significant added costs. However, if the shipments are forwarded through other ports, it may attract added costs,” said a Mundra-based freight forwarder, without willing to be named.
Source : TOI
