Economics
Indian Ports In Confusion as Virus Lockdown Hits Operations
- Ministry says pandemic is valid ground for force majeure
- Gail, Petronet, GSPC declare force majeure on some LNG cargoes
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India’s government told all major ports that the coronavirus fight is a valid reason to halt some port operations, leaving traders confused over which goods will continue to flow in and out of the world’s seventh-biggest economy.
Ports were advised by India’s Ministry of Shipping that they may consider the Covid-19 pandemic as grounds for invoking force majeure, a clause absolving companies from meeting their contractual commitments for reasons beyond their control, according to a letter Tuesday seen by Bloomberg. Several ports and terminals have done so already, while also saying they aim to maintain operations as the government deemed shipping an “essential service.”