Operations at Mundra Port returned to normal after the Mundra Empty Container Yards & Allied Services Provider Association (MECYASA) called off a 13-day strike against APSEZ regarding empty yard code freezes. In broader trade developments, data from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) revealed that India’s trade deficit with BRICS nations tripled from $74.5 billion in FY21 to $226.1 billion in FY26, as import growth vastly outpaced export gains. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) President SC Ralhan emphasized that India must leverage its BRICS Chairship to secure easier market access, lower non-tariff barriers, and integrate into regional production value chains rather than serving merely as an import market. Demonstrating operational flexibility in maritime logistics, the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) successfully executed the break-bulk shipment of 3,000 MT of fish meal packed in jumbo bags aboard MV CHRISTINA bound for Turkey. This successful loading marks a transition from standard containerized transport to flexible break-bulk operations, enhancing port handling capabilities for diverse cargo types.