March 20, 2002

    During 1998-99 to 2000-01 period, annual compound growth rate of about 12.5% has been registered for containers in terms of their number in Twenty Feet Equivalent Unit (REU). As in the case of other cargoes, the growth of containers is dependent on the general increase in trade volumes. In addition, the containerization of the containerizable cargo adds to the growth of containers. To maintain this trend, the main efforts made are containerization of such cargoes which were not hitherto containerized, development of better port facilities for handling of containers, development of Inland Container Depots and improvement of transportation system for carriage of containers.

    This information was given in the Lok Sabha today by Shri Shripad Y. Naik, Minister of State for Shipping in a written reply to a question by Shri A. Brahmanaiah.