India

Hindu Business Line | English | News | Dec. 2, 2025 | Supply Chain Issues

Singapore has been ranked the world’s leading container port according to the first edition of the ‘Leading Container Ports of the World’ (LCP) report by DNV and Menon Economics. Shanghai and Ningbo-Zhoushan follow in second and third place, while Rotterdam and Busan complete the top five. Maritime transport handles nearly 90 percent of global trade by volume, with container ports managing over 80 percent of non-bulk merchandise, amid significant transformation driven by rising trade, technological advancements, and climate pressures.

Bangladesh has signed a major agreement to develop the Laldia container terminal in Chattogram with an investment exceeding $550 million through a public–private partnership between Chittagong Port Authority and APM Terminals. The terminal will add more than 800,000 TEUs of capacity annually, reduce congestion, lower logistics costs, and support faster goods movement. Sustainability features include electrified equipment, solar power, and shore power readiness to align with Bangladesh’s climate objectives.

In global trade trends, air cargo demand increased by 4.1 percent and capacity by 5.1 percent in October 2025, marking eight consecutive months of growth, according to the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Global goods trade grew 5.3 percent year-on-year in September, while industrial production rose 3.7 percent, its fastest pace since March 2025. Jet fuel prices grew 2.5 percent in October despite falling crude oil prices, with a tightening diesel market nearly doubling the jet crack spread compared to last year.

Manufacturing sentiment improved slightly in October, with the Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rising to 51.45 over three months, although new export orders fell to 48.31, below the expansion threshold. This reflects ongoing caution due to tariff uncertainties impacting global trade conditions.

The Economic Times | English | News | Dec. 2, 2025 | Regulation

The Securities & Exchange Board of India (Sebi) is set to enhance transparency and end the anonymity of offshore derivative instrument (ODI) investors by mandating registration with the National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL). ODIs, also known as participatory notes, are issued by foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) to overseas investors who want exposure to Indian securities without directly registering with Sebi. Under the new procedure being developed, only foreign ODI subscribers registered on the NSDL portal will be eligible to receive ODIs, allowing greater visibility of these investors through their legal entity identifier (LEI).

The proposed standard operating procedure (SOP) will extend granular disclosure requirements to ODI subscribers, similar to the norms introduced for FPIs in 2023 following allegations against the Adani group by the US short-seller Hindenburg. If ODI subscribers’ Indian portfolio concentration exceeds 50% in a single stock or corporate group, they will be required to disclose the identities of the ultimate beneficiaries, even if the issuing FPI has not crossed exposure limits. This measure aims to prevent misuse of the P-note route for surrogate ownership and to ensure comprehensive Know Your Customer (KYC) compliance.

The SOP also outlines the responsibilities of ODI issuers, subscribers, and depositories to maintain compliance and facilitate automated daily reporting and breach notifications. Non-compliance could result in trading restrictions and forced liquidation. Specific timelines are provided for FPIs breaching the exposure concentration limits, requiring reduction of stakes by February 2025 and imposing trading curbs from early 2026 if breaches persist. These changes are expected to take effect from February 16, 2026, with ODI positions in IPOs being reported on listing dates to further bolster regulatory oversight.

Times of India | English | News | Dec. 2, 2025 | Regulation

The Indian government has decided to support the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) in a Supreme Court case against the Delhi and Mumbai airport operators, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). The dispute centers around a Rs 50,000-crore claim related to the hypothetical regulatory asset base (HRAB) for the first two years of airport operations during the public-private partnership (PPP) era about 20 years ago. The airport operators have challenged the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal’s (TDSAT) ruling that struck down their HRAB claim.

If the operators succeed, it could lead to substantial increases in passenger charges, including user development fees (UDF) and airline landing and parking fees, ultimately increasing airfare costs. The government estimates that the UDF could rise nearly ninefold in Delhi and 21 times in Mumbai, with domestic UDF at Delhi potentially increasing from Rs 129 to Rs 1,261 and at Mumbai from Rs 175 to Rs 3,856. This claim pertains to the asset valuation at the time when the airports were transferred to private management in 2006, before AERA began setting tariffs in 2009.

The government argues that DIAL and MIAL are demanding a much higher valuation of assets, including non-aeronautical properties such as hotels and malls, which the officials warn would undermine the brownfield airport development model by making it prohibitively expensive for users. The aviation ministry has committed to legally contesting the claim vigorously to protect passengers from this potential financial burden.