Maersk has inaugurated a dedicated weekly reefer rail service connecting Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical manufacturing cluster to Nhava Sheva port. The corridor has been developed in close partnership with the Container Corporation of India (CONCOR).
The service runs on a fixed weekly schedule using 40-foot refrigerated containers. Pre-trip inspection compliance and quality-aligned container selection are built into every shipment.
The corridor operates as an end-to-end cold chain solution under a single window arrangement. Maersk takes responsibility for the inland rail leg, ocean freight, and shipment visibility from origin to destination.
What Pharma Exporters Get?
Along with the rail and ocean movement, customers can access:
- Documentation and compliance assistance
- Cold chain advisory support
- Last-mile trucking at the destination
Several of Hyderabad’s leading pharmaceutical manufacturers are already using the service, with additional customers in the onboarding process.
Export Lanes Covered
Through Nhava Sheva, the corridor connects to major reefer trade destinations, including:
- North America East Coast ports: Newark, Norfolk, Charleston, and Savannah
- Latin America
- Europe
- Other reefer trade lanes
Why the Service Matters
The corridor addresses a long-standing industry requirement for reliable, temperature-controlled inland transport. Rail movement also produces lower greenhouse gas emissions compared with road haulage, which adds an environmental edge for exporters tracking supply chain emissions.
ALSO READ:CONCOR Launches Rail-Based Bulk Cement Transport in Tank Containers
Leadership View
Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director of Maersk South Asia, described the service as a direct response to the pharmaceutical sector’s demand for precision, reliability, and accountability across the supply chain. He acknowledged CONCOR’s partnership as instrumental in making the corridor operational.
He placed the initiative within Maersk’s broader commitment to building logistics infrastructure aligned with the evolving needs of Indian industry, where pharmaceutical exports represent a significant and growing segment of the country’s trade economy.