Maersk launches Hyderabad reefer rail corridor for pharmaceutical exports

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Maersk has launched its first dedicated reefer rail service linking Hyderabad’s pharmaceutical manufacturing hub with Nhava Sheva Port near Mumbai, aiming to provide exporters with a more predictable cold chain solution while reducing transport emissions.

The weekly service, developed in partnership with CONCOR, moves 40 foot refrigerated containers on a fixed rail schedule between Hyderabad and the port gateway. The corridor is designed for pharmaceutical cargo that requires strict temperature control and compliance monitoring throughout transit.

For exporters, the challenge is often simple to describe but difficult to solve. How do you move temperature sensitive medicines across long inland distances without delays, road congestion, or temperature deviations? Maersk believes rail can answer part of that problem.

The company said the service combines inland rail, ocean freight, and cargo visibility under a single logistics arrangement. Pre trip inspection compliance and container quality checks are included for every shipment.

The rail corridor will support exports moving to North America’s East Coast ports including Newark, Norfolk, Charleston, and Savannah, alongside trade lanes into Europe and Latin America.

According to Maersk, shifting cargo from road to rail could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 3,000 tonnes annually.

Thomas Theeuwes, Managing Director of Maersk South Asia, said the pharmaceutical sector requires “precision, reliability, and accountability” across the supply chain and described the rail service as a direct response to industry demand.