CBIC Broadens Cargo Transhipment Protocols Across All Ports Amidst Strait of Hormuz Maritime Crisis

The global supply chain is highly susceptible to geopolitical shifts, and the recent closure of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered unprecedented disruptions in international maritime routes. As a direct consequence, vessels carrying export cargo have been forced to divert or return to Indian territorial waters, creating severe logistical bottlenecks. Recognizing the gravity of this situation and its financial impact on the exporting assessee, the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) has rolled out comprehensive relief measures.

Through the issuance of Circular No. 15/2026-Customs dated 27th March, 2026, the regulatory authority has significantly expanded the international transhipment framework. This directive leverages the powers vested under Section 143AA of the Customs Act, 1962 to permit the seamless movement of both Full Container Load (FCL) and Less than Container Load (LCL) shipments across all authorized customs stations, seaports, and international airports in India.

Contextual Background and Statutory Evolution

The current facilitation measure does not exist in a vacuum. It is the culmination of a series of rapid regulatory responses aimed at mitigating the fallout from the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Prior to this latest directive, the CBIC had already laid the groundwork through a sequence of notifications, specifically Circular No. 09/2026-Customs issued on 08.03.2026, followed by Circular No. 10/2026-Customs on 10.03.2026, and Circular No. 12/2026-Customs on 17.03.2026.

Historically, the blueprint for international cargo transhipment was governed by the aging Circular No. 14/2007-Customs dated 16.03.2007. However, numerous trade bodies and field formations represented to the Board that the archaic procedures were insufficient to handle the current crisis. The exporting assessee required a more dynamic, unified, and simplified approval mechanism that could accommodate the emergency rerouting of FCL and LCL cargo through alternative customs stations.

Crucial Regulatory Shift: Acknowledging the immediate need to unclog gateway ports and facilitate trade, the Board has officially clarified that international transhipment operations for all containerized cargo (both FCL and LCL) are now universally permitted from every seaport and international airport across the nation. This includes complex logistical scenarios where cargo must transit through multiple intermediate customs jurisdictions, provided all actions strictly adhere to the Customs Act, 1962 and its corresponding rules.

The Administrative Framework: Appointment of Nodal Officers

To ensure that the newly expanded transhipment liberties do not result in administrative chaos or revenue leakage, the CBIC has mandated the creation of a specialized supervisory mechanism.

Designation and Rank

Every single Customs Zone across the country is now required to appoint a dedicated Nodal Officer. To guarantee that this officer possesses the requisite authority to make swift, binding decisions, the Board has stipulated that the appointee must hold a rank no lower than that of a Joint Commissioner or Additional Commissioner of Customs.