Maersk plans to upsize vessels on its West India-US East Coast "MECL" service, adding incremental weekly capacity of up to 3,000 TEU through 2026, following US tariff reductions on Indian goods, reported London's S&P Global.

Industry sources said the carrier will begin with an extra 750-800 TEU per week in the second quarter, coinciding with new contract shipments. Current MECL ships range between 6,000 and 8,000 TEU, with transit times of 25 days from Nhava Sheva to Newark.

Bhavik Mota, Maersk's director of regional ocean management for India, Middle East and Africa, said cargo flows are expected to materialise from April as production cycles align. He noted tariff cuts from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, with a further reduction to 18 per cent expected, improve trade economics.

Exports from India to the US East Coast rose 20 per cent in January to 76,550 TEU, the first monthly increase since August. Spot rates, however, have fallen sharply, down to $1,173 per FEU in February from $2,200 in August, according to Platts.

Analysts warned that a large capacity influx could weigh on contract rate negotiations if demand does not accelerate. Maersk has also announced a peak season surcharge of $3,000 per container from 20 March for loads from the Indian subcontinent and Middle East to the US East and Gulf coasts.