A showdown appears imminent as trade stakeholders clash with Adani Hazira Port Pvt Ltd (HPPL), the largest private port operator in India, over its decision to impose additional charges on container freight station (CFS) operators, effective from September 8th at the Gujarat-based port.

On August 25th, Adani Hazira Port, a subsidiary of Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), issued a Customer Advisory outlining its intention to levy extra charges. The extra charges would amount to Rs2,500 for a 20 ft container and Rs4,000 for 40 and 45 ft containers when import-loaded containers are transported to a CFS as designated by shipping lines.

Additionally, Adani Hazira Port has mandated that CFS operators maintain a Pre-Deposit Account (PDA) balance at the terminal, starting from September 8th, to facilitate invoicing for the import-laden container nomination charges. As of now, none of the five CFS operators currently operating at Hazira Port have initiated the process of opening a PDA account, leading to potential complications in the delivery of import-laden containers, according to sources.

This move by Adani Hazira Port has triggered concerns and discontent within the trade community, setting the stage for a potential standoff between the port operator and CFS operators in the coming days.