Русский
In 2024, FESCO shipped more than 16,000 TEU between the Indian ports of Navasheva, Mundra and Novorossiysk via the FESCO Indian Line West (FIL-W) marine service, which is almost 7 times higher than last year. FESCO exported 7,000 TEU, and imported about 9,000 TEU.
Currently, two container ships with a total cargo capacity of more than 2,100 TEU are operating on the line, which provides a regular service every 18 days. The transit time from Novorossiysk to the ports of Navasheva and Mundra near India’s major port city of Mumbai is about 17 days.
FESCO said that “The multiple increase was due to the intensive development of maritime transportation between India and Russia and a 24% increase in the capacity of the group’s fleet serving FIL-W.”
With the help of partner feeder lines, the FIL-W service is connected to other Indian ports at Kolkota (Calcutta), Tuticorin, Chennai, as well as to ports of neighbouring countries in Chattogramp (Bangladesh), Karachi (Pakistan), and Colombo (Sri Lanka). Cargo transhipment to FESCO vessels is carried out at the west Indian port of Mundra.
In addition, since September 2024, FESCO has added regular direct ship calls to Jebel Ali Port (UAE) to the FIL-W route, and in December, the service launched container shipments between Novorossiysk and the port of Mombasa (Kenya). Export shipments from Russia are carried out through the port of the Mundra transhipment (India), import shipments from Kenya are carried out through the port of Jebel Ali.
The increases illustrate Russia’s growing trade and supply chains with India, South Asia, the Middle East and East Africa.
Further Reading
This guide discusses Russia’s trade, investment and geopolitical developments with both these South Asian trade blocs. SAARC includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. SAARC comprises 3% of the world’s land area, 21% of the world’s population and a combined GDP (PPP) of US$18.5 trillion. BIMSTEC is a similar organisation based on economies around the Bay of Bengal. It includes Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Thailand.
This guide is essential reading for anyone interested in the Russian geopolitics and trade and investment dynamics in the South and Southeast Asian regions. It is a complimentary download.
