CMA CGM has become the launch customer for Airbus’ A350 freighter following Air Lease’s decision to cancel its order for seven of the new generation aircraft, said Linkedin Post. CMA CGM referenced its order for eight A350Fs, for use by its freighter airline subsidiary CMA CGM Air Cargo, in a LinkedIn post last week.

Surat played host to the national-level Being Exporter Grand Meet, bringing together leading exporters to boost exports, particularly in the wake of the United States (US) levying a 50 per cent tariff on the Indian products. The event brought together 225 exporters and aspiring exporters from across India, united by the goal of expanding the reach of ‘Make in India’ products in international markets. The exporters are now seeking new strategies, markets and partnerships to mitigate the impact of the steep United States (US) tariff increase on the Indian products. Bhagirath Goswami, Founder of Being Exporter said, “The grand meet was not a networking event, but a strategic response to the constantly changing global trade environment. The diversity of industries present at the meeting proves that India has the capacity and the capability to lead in multiple sectors, even in challenging conditions.” The participants exchanged market intelligence, explored alternative markets and discussed ways to strengthen India’s position in emerging and established markets. The Grand Meet also served as a platform for forging international collaborations and reinforcing India’s commitment to being a reliable global supplier. The meet concluded with the participants pledging to expand their global footprint, strengthen buyer relationships, and continue driving the nation’s export growth despite external factors.    

Celcius Logistics has announced the launch of Celcius+, a specialised logistics arm dedicated exclusively to the seamless management of the pharmaceutical supply chain. Designed to meet the sector’s stringent requirements for temperature control, compliance and real-time visibility, Celcius+ ensures medicines, vaccines, and other sensitive products are transported with maximum safety and efficiency.  In its initial phase, Celcius will invest ₹50 crore to create a dedicated pharma fleet and support infrastructure, with a goal of achieving ₹100 crore in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from this segment within the next 18 months. Of this, ₹35 crore will be allocated towards deploying 100 new reefer vehicles for Celcius+ along key pharmaceutical corridors across India. A further ₹10–15 crore is being earmarked to build a robust pharma courier system tailored to serve high-demand urban and semi-urban markets. To support this rapid expansion, Celcius will add 30–40 specialised team members with expertise in pharma logistics, operations, and regulatory compliance.

The Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority (GNIDA) has reportedly invited bids to develop 174-acre multimodal logistics park with proposals submitted by Adani Ports and SEZ,  Super Handlers and Empezar Logistics. A high-powered committee, led by the Chief Secretary, will evaluate the bids, said reports. The selected developer will receive a 90-year lease for the 174.12 acres at Kappa 2, with the minimum investment requirement excluding land cost, the reports added. The project which aims to transform freight movement in the region is expected to attract over Rs 1,200 crore in investment and create at least 5,000 jobs.

Uzbekistan-based cargo airline My Freighter has officially started scheduled cargo operations with the launch of a new route from Shanghai Pudong (PVG) to Amsterdam Schiphol (AMS) via its main hub in Tashkent (TAS), said Linkedin Post. Flights will take place two times a week using a Boeing 767-300 freighter, with a total transit time of 17 hours. My Freighter said its entry into scheduled cargo operations has been made possible through its partnership with cargo sales agent, Air Cargo APAC. The airline said the new route addresses growing airfreight demand between China and Europe and will also help develop Tashkent into an international logistics hub. My Freigher stated the route is ‘designed as a smart logistics solution, linking China’s largest manufacturing and export hub with one of Europe’s key cargo gateways via strategically located Tashkent.’

Huned Gandhi, Managing Director Air & Sea Logistics Indian Subcontinent, Dachser India said, “While major reforms have been introduced in recent years, a few areas still require focused attention like seamless inter-state coordination and unified compliance frameworks, expansion of sector-specific infrastructure, including cold chains and hazardous goods handling, digitally integrated systems for customs, warehousing and transportation across the private and public sectors, continued focus on skill development to address workforce shortages in specialised logistics functions and development of urban freight solutions and smart last-mile delivery networks. Dachser India contributes to this vision through its digital infrastructure, such as the DACHSER Platform, which offers customers a unified interface to manage, track and control shipments across modes. Internally, ongoing training and upskilling programmes ensure that teams are equipped to deliver consistent and compliant services in a complex logistics environment. These combined efforts align with the broader goals of building a modern, efficient and globally competitive logistics ecosystem in India.”

Softlink Academy has signed MoU with EXIM Management Services and SNDT Women’s College, Pune to bridge the skills gap in India’s Export-Import (EXIM) and logistics sector.  The MoU enables a commercial collaboration that trains and empowers students — especially women — in EXIM logistics through certified programs, digital tools and real-world exposure. By combining academic learning with real-world application, the program will produce a skilled, confident and future-ready workforce capable of meeting the demands of global trade. Historically, women have been underrepresented in EXIM and logistics due to limited access to specialised training and persistent gender biases. Partnering with SNDT Women’s College marks a purposeful step towards creating a more inclusive and diverse industry. Amit Maheshwari, Founder & CEO, Softlink Global said, “Knowledge is the foundation of progress, but when combined with practical experience and digital tools, it becomes a powerful force for transformation. Through Softlink Academy, we’re committed to nurturing talent that can shape the future of EXIM — not just by understanding the trade, but by leading it.”  

Kirby Building Systems & Structures India inaugurated its new Centre of Engineering Excellence in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. Spanning over 40,000 square feet of workspace, the new engineering centre is a modern, collaborative office that in line with our immediate growth plans & future expansions in India and other regions. More than 400 structural designers and detailers will operate from this hub, using a wide array of cutting-edge design and drafting softwares, including MBS, STAAD.Pro, Bocad, ETABS, Tekla, AutoCAD, 3ds Max, Smartest and more. This Centre of Excellence not only reinforces Kirby’s pioneer & market leadership in India for over last 25 years but also builds upon its legacy of over nearly five decades of global expertise in the steel construction industry. It is a significant step in Kirby’s continued focus on innovation, engineering excellence and delivering customer-centric, sustainable solutions using different design codes through this engineering centre. This facility, with a seating capacity of over 550 professionals, will function as Corporate Office with sales & marketing and engineering functions. The inauguration ceremony was graced by Mahmoud Samara, CEO – Alghanim Industries, along with Dirk Kahl, CFO, Jesper Berg, CHRO and D. Raju, Head – Kirby International and P. V. Mohan, CEO – Kirby India. They were joined by other senior leadership members and engineering team from Kirby India. As part of the visit, the Alghanim leadership team interacted with Kirby India’s senior functional heads, discussing the company’s growth strategy, leadership position in the Indian market, and ways to address emerging challenges in this highly competitive landscape. The visit also included a tour of Kirby’s Hyderabad and Halol manufacturing facilities, where they were briefed on Kaizen initiatives.  

Global air cargo volumes jumped over 5 per cent year-on-year in July as more shippers opted for the speed of airfreight to help circumvent U.S. tariffs, according to the latest market analysis by Xeneta. Market sentiment, however, remains subdued as tariff talks in Washington remain in flux, with a new deadline now set for 7 August for a broad range of trading partners. The lack of clarity continues to cast a shadow over global trade flows, particularly in the airfreight sector. Contrary to the usual seasonal lull, July saw a notable upturn in global air cargo demand following a modest over one per cent gain in June. This unexpected boost, bucking seasonal patterns, appears driven in part by tariff-related frontloading, mode shift and persistent uncertainty, prompting businesses to expedite shipments. With cargo capacity in July increasing by a lower level of over 3 per cent year-on-year, the more robust over 5 per cent rise in volume helped lift the dynamic load factor, which has now returned to levels comparable with a year earlier (58 per cent) and recovering the minus 2 per cent point decline recorded just a month ago. Dynamic load factor is Xeneta’s measurement of capacity utilisation based on volume and weight of cargo flown alongside available capacity.

Chennai airport has reportedly seen a 19 per cent growth in international freight handling in the quarter ended June 2025. As per the reports, it is the highest growth among all the major airports. This fiscal, Chennai has overtaken BIAL airport largely due to increase in export volume of Apple phones and import of electronic components. Earlier, BIAL was ahead of Chennai. The Chennai airport in the first quarter handled 82,844 tonnes of international freight as against 69,629 tonnes in the corresponding quarter last year. In comparison, Bengaluru handled 80,075 tonnes in June 2025 quarter compared to 79,014 tonnes in the year-ago period, according to Airports Authority of India data.