German liner giant Hapag-Lloyd has signed a series of agreements with the Indian government, setting out plans to deepen its presence in one of the fastest-growing shipping markets.

The Hamburg-based carrier said it has agreed three letters of intent with New Delhi covering vessel reflagging, ship recycling and port development, following talks in Mumbai between chief executive Rolf Habben Jansen and shipping minister Sarbananda Sonowal.

Under the framework, Hapag-Lloyd will explore reflagging up to four ships under the Indian registry, although timelines and vessel details have yet to be finalised. Any move will depend on further commercial and regulatory assessments, the company said.

The agreements also include cooperation on building out India’s ship recycling capacity, with a focus on meeting the standards of the EU Ship Recycling Regulation. The plan could eventually support facilities capable of handling up to 100 vessels, as India looks to upgrade its position in the global recycling market.

In parallel, the carrier is in discussions to support the development of Vadhavan Port alongside the Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority. The project is seen as a key part of India’s push to expand port capacity and strengthen its role in global supply chains.

The move comes as global liner operators ramp up their exposure to India, both operationally and strategically. Rivals have been shifting tonnage under the Indian flag and striking agreements with local shipyards, as the government rolls out incentives to build a domestic maritime ecosystem.

Hapag-Lloyd has had a long-standing presence in India, employing more than 2,800 staff across 17 offices and running six dedicated liner services linking the country to major trade lanes. It has also invested in J M Baxi Ports & Logistics, a major private terminal and inland logistics operator handling around 3.2m teu annually.

The company aims to grow its India-related volumes to around 3m teu by 2030, as part of its broader strategy to expand in key emerging markets and strengthen its position in global container trades.