The vessel has already sailed from Guwahati to Bogibeel in Assam, where the tanks can be loaded with methanol before beginning the onward voyage to Bangladesh, according to the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI).
The shipment will use the Brahmaputra waterway, which forms part of India’s National Waterway-2, to connect Assam with the wider inland network and Bangladesh. IWAI described methanol as the latest addition to the range of commodities being moved by river in India’s north-east region.
The use of tank containers allows the methanol to be transported as a packaged liquid cargo rather than requiring dedicated chemical tanker capacity. The 27-tank movement also provides a test of the infrastructure and procedures required to handle hazardous liquid cargoes at inland terminals.
APL, a state-owned producer based at Namrup in Assam, has been developing its methanol business following the commissioning of a 500 tonnes-per-day methanol plant in 2023. The company has previously identified Bangladesh as an export market for methanol and formalin.
In July 2026, the Assam government said APL was pursuing methanol exports to Bangladesh through inland waterways, with shipping arrangements being finalised.
The latest movement therefore represents a shift from plans and trials towards an operational inland waterway supply chain for APL’s exports.