The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) members Keshav Tanna, Past President and Rajen Bhatia, Regional Chairman attended the IMC’s Logistics and Transportation Committee meeting in Mumbai along with other eminent committee members. The meeting covered various topics such as new projects at (Navi Mumbai Airport and Vadhavan Port), customs monthly meetings, upcoming webinars, representations and sustainability.

      As part of a long-term contract spanning seven years, Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL) has leased out warehousing space in Bhiwandi, spread across an area of 5.93 lakh sq. ft. As per the reports, the HUL has rented the space at an initial monthly rent of INR 1.54 Cr. It is of the biggest agreements for the leasing of warehousing space in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), in past few years. Bhiwani has evolved as a warehousing hub near Mumbai as many top firms have leased out warehousing space.  

As part of its sustainability initiative to achieve net zero emissions by 2040, Allcargo Gati Limited is set to roll out more than 1700 rebranded Alternative Fuel Vehicles (AFVs) across India. The vehicle boasts of cutting-edge design, which will ensure enhanced fuel efficiency paving the way for company’s sustainable logistics operations, particularly for last-mile delivery services. “The launch of our rebranded fleet underscores our commitment to sustainability and operational excellence. By integrating cutting-edge technology and improved efficiency, the AFVs are designed to reduce our carbon footprints and ensure cost-effectiveness”, Uday Sharma, Chief Commercial Officer, Allcargo Gati Limited, said.

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) and trucking firm Bos Logistics are utilising an electric truck for the delivery of cargo. The duel-branded Volvo FH Electric truck will deliver consolidated freight from AFKLMP’s Schiphol facility to various airfreight agents. The companies had already switched to a biofuel for deliveries, which the partners reckon reduce net emissions by 90%. The two partners in a release said they would make further investments in reducing their impact on the environment in the future. As well as investing in improving its environmental performance on the ground, the airline group has also been investing in sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

According to a report by JLL and Miebach Consulting titled, ‘Future of logistics, the demand for warehouse space is projected to reach approximately 1.2 billion sq. ft. by 2027 across Grade A, B & C warehouses across all Indian cities. This growth is not just about quantity, but quality as well. The report highlights a significant shift towards Grade A warehousing, with stock expected to grow to an impressive 400 million sq-ft by 2027 from 290 million sq-ft in 2023. E-commerce, Third-Party Logistics (3PL), and omni-channel retail are emerging as the primary drivers of this warehousing boom, particularly for high-quality Grade A spaces. However, the landscape of growth is changing. While major cities have traditionally dominated the warehousing sector, Tier II and III cities are now emerging as the next frontier. The report reveals a striking 41% increase in warehouse space absorption in Tier II plus markets from 2022 to 2023.

As part of the expansion of its warehousing infrastructure, Bobba Logistics is set to operationalize phase II with the establishment of 3,00,000 sq. ft of advanced warehousing, logistical and cargo-handling facilities. The project is being established near Devanahalli, Bengaluru. The total cost for the building of this infrastructure is projected to be around INR 100 crores. In 2023, the logistics giant established its 75,000 sq. ft phase I project at Sonnappanahalli, involving an investment of INR 30 crores. With this massive investment in warehousing infrastructure, Bobba Logistics aims to streamline the supply chain and serve a wide customer base.

In his insightful speech at the 2nd National Warehousing & Supply Chain Summit, Dr. Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary, DPIIT, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Govt. of India, said – “PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan and National Logistics Policy, combined, have brought the logistics and the infrastructure development planning to the fore. All the state governments have also come together to make planning more effective and of great quality which will also affect in a positive manner for the implementation process. So, you won’t be hearing, probably in the present and the near future, the delays in the project implementation. And this can be largely attributed to the the PM Gati Shakti transformative approach, using data, using information, using only objective means to take planning related decisions about logistics and warehousing infrastructure.”

Aeroflot has further strengthened its presence in India with recent expansion in Goa. To capitalise on trade between India and Russia, Aeroflot has launched new cargo flights to Goa, Mopa Airport.  Starting October 1, 2024, the airline is operating six weekly flights on the Moscow-Goa-Moscow and Yekaterinburg-Goa-Yekaterinburg routes. This expansion will add 45 tons of weekly cargo capacity, streamlining the movement of goods and improving supply chain efficiency. Naveen Rao, Director of Delmos Aviation, Aeroflot’s cargo representative in India, said, “We are thrilled to contribute to the strengthening of trade ties between India and Russia. Our thrice-weekly flights connecting Moscow and Goa, as well as thrice-weekly flights Yekaterinburg and Goa, underscore our commitment to meeting the growing demand for cargo services in the region.” Aeroflot’s new flights to Goa will benefit businesses in both India and Russia, providing increased tourism, trade opportunities and improved logistics.   The airline, based at Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, has been operating daily A-333/B-777 passenger flights from Delhi since 1960.

C K Govil, President ACAAI says, “Challenges in cold chain transportation include maintaining consistent temperature control, minimising spoilage, and ensuring timely delivery. Technology like IoT sensors can provide real-time monitoring, ensuring temperature stability and reducing risks. Drones offer a faster, efficient solution for delivering perishable goods in remote or hard-to-reach areas, thus enhancing supply chain reliability and reducing delays, while maintaining product integrity.”

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “We are aware that an efficient and result-oriented cold chain requires an unbroken chain of refrigerated manufacturing, production, storage, packaging, tracking, transportation, proper equipment and skilled personnel handling the processes coupled with safe and secure delivery at the destination. And to adhere to such a chain of actions, we face several challenges such as deficient cold storage, insufficient transportation facilities fraught with vehicle breakdowns followed by threats of cyber-attacks, high operating costs, rising raw material prices & increased labour wages. Further, an induction of drones may deliver an enhanced visibility, tracking facilities and real-time monitoring of stored goods. Drones with bar code readers can facilitate stock checks leading to an improved inventory management efficiency. In fact, usage of drones in managing the cold chain products may deliver a revolutionary & positive transformation in managing the logistics.”