June 4th, 2026 – Ongoing demand weakness and geopolitical uncertainty are prompting container carriers to reassess capacity deployment on Indian westbound trade lanes, with Mediterranean Shipping Co. (MSC) becoming the latest carrier to reduce its presence on the India–U.S. East Coast corridor.
MSC has discontinued its Indus Express service between West India and the U.S. East Coast, ending one of the two long-standing loops it operated on the route. The service previously connected Port Qasim (Karachi), Nhava Sheva, Mundra, Caucedo in the Dominican Republic, Freeport, Savannah, Charleston, Norfolk, Baltimore, and New York.
The final sailing under the Indus Express banner will be performed by the MSC Pratiti, which is scheduled to depart Mundra on June 4th and arrive in New York on July 13th, according to published vessel schedules.
Cargo moving between India and the U.S. East Coast is expected to be shifted to MSC’s remaining Indusa service, while shipments destined for South America’s East and West Coasts may experience temporary disruptions due to routing adjustments. MSC has advised customers to refrain from confirming bookings or issuing quotations for India–South America cargo until revised routing options and pricing structures are finalized.
According to local freight forwarding sources, vessels operating on the Indusa service typically offer between 1,800 and 2,000 TEUs of capacity per call from West India ports such as Nhava Sheva and Mundra.
This is not the first capacity reduction MSC has implemented on the trade. The carrier previously withdrew its Indus 2 service, which had been introduced in August 2021 to capitalize on the surge in cargo demand during the pandemic.
Industry observers note that MSC frequently employs flexible vessel deployment strategies to maintain cargo flow and optimize network efficiency. As a result, the withdrawal of the service is not expected to have a major impact on the carrier’s overall cargo volumes.
The decision comes against the backdrop of a significantly oversupplied India–U.S. East Coast market. Limited cargo growth has left carriers competing for volume, and planned capacity increases by other operators could add further pressure. Maersk, for example, is expected to deploy larger vessels on its MECL service later this month, potentially increasing available space and contributing to continued freight rate volatility.
Recent volume data underscores the challenges facing the trade lane. According to PIERS data, India-to-U.S. East Coast container shipments totaled approximately 61,500 TEUs in April, representing a 25% decline compared with the same month last year. Volumes also fell from March levels, which reached 73,420 TEUs.
Freight rates have remained relatively stable despite the imbalance between supply and demand. Over the past month, booking rates from India to the U.S. East Coast have generally ranged between $2,000 and $2,500 per FEU, depending on the carrier. It’s anticipated that carriers may attempt modest rate increases in the coming weeks as capacity adjustments begin to take effect.
Several surcharge initiatives are already scheduled. Maersk plans to introduce a peak season surcharge of $1,650 per container effective June 10th, while Hapag-Lloyd has announced a general rate increase of $1,000 per container beginning June 15th.
Spot market pricing remains subdued. As of June 1st, Platts assessed India–U.S. East Coast rates at approximately $2,200 per FEU, indicating little week-over-week movement despite carriers’ efforts to improve pricing conditions.
