Escalating shipping disruptions triggered by the continuing crisis in West Asia have prompted Indian exporters to seek urgent government intervention, amid warnings that soaring freight rates, fewer direct calls by mother vessels at Indian ports and increasing dependence on foreign transshipment hubs are hurting India's export competitiveness. In a letter last week to Union Ports, Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, the Federation of Indian Export Organizations (FIEO) sought an urgent meeting with the Ministry to discuss immediate and long-term measures to address the disruptions.

"We want to take up with the Shipping Ministry the escalation in shipping related problems being faced by exporters and look for some solutions".