Govt has indicated to exporters that Shipping Corporation of India (SCI) may run container ships to West Asia to help them tide over the problem of high freight costs.

Responding to complaints over high input and freight costs, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal is said to have conveyed SCI's plan during a meeting with export promotion councils on Monday evening, an industry representative present in the meeting told TOI. Earlier this month, TOI had first reported about the discussions that also involves Apeda and Concor.

Freight and input cost and availability of container ships due to West Asia conflict were the two most prominent concerns shared at the meeting, with oil prices, petrochemicals, chemicals, plastics and cotton being flagged as segments, where govt intervention was sought. The textile bodies, for instance, have demanded zero duty import of citing high market prices although in this case, the war in West Asia is strictly not the villain. An exporter alleged that Cotton Corporation of India liquidated stocks, which were picked up by a handful of players, who had jacked up prices and zero-duty imports could help offset that impact. The leather industry also has sought some concessions related to polyurethane.

There were also suggestions to streamline some of the relief measures announced by govt. The commerce department has already stepped in to announce a wider insurance coverage for goods headed to West Asia, while the revenue department has eased norms for SEZ units selling in the domestic market.