India’s maritime regulator, the Directorate General of Shipping (DGS), has warned shipping companies and their agents against predatory and non-transparent pricing practices amid disruptions to global shipping caused by escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
In an advisory issued on March 11, the regulator cautioned shipping lines against imposing excessive or opportunistic charges linked to the ongoing conflict following the US–Israel attacks on Iran, which have created significant uncertainty across regional shipping routes.
The warning came after a meeting between the DGS and stakeholders in India’s export-import (EXIM) sector, during which exporters and importers raised concerns about multiple ancillary charges being added by shipping lines and agents.
According to the advisory, all shipping companies, carriers and their representatives are required to avoid “predatory, non-transparent and opportunistic pricing practices,” including the imposition of exorbitant fees taking advantage of geopolitical disruptions.
The regulator emphasized that such practices undermine transparency, fairness and predictability within India’s logistics and trade ecosystem.
In addition, the DGS instructed shipping operators to clearly communicate all applicable charges upfront to exporters and importers in order to prevent disputes and ensure smoother trade operations.
The advisory comes as shipping and freight markets face rising volatility, with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East affecting key global maritime routes and increasing pressure on international logistics costs.
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