BENZ Packaging, a leader in the packaging industry has inaugurated facilities in Chennai and the acquisition of prime land for a new manufacturing plant in Haryana. The Chennai plant, previously spanning 7,000 sq ft, has now expanded to an impressive 25,000 sq ft. This expansion is a testament to BENZ Packaging’s commitment to meeting the growing demands of its customers and enhancing its manufacturing capabilities.With this extension in area, the employment has also increased up to twice from 35 to 70 skilled workers.  The expanded facility bolsters the company’s ability to deliver innovative, high-quality packaging solutions across various sectors, including automobile, steel, defense, and food preservation. New Manufacturing Facility in Haryana In a monumental leap forward, BENZ Packaging has acquired 1.5 acres of prime land in Haryana for its upcoming manufacturing facility. This strategic move, accompanied by an investment exceeding Rs 50 crore, underscores BENZ Packaging’s dedication to innovation, growth, and community development. The new plant is designed to adhere to the highest industry standards and will serve as a hub for the company’s diverse product lines, including anti-corrosion, anti-humidity, handling, machinery packaging, wooden boxes, pallets, and stretch films. The Haryana facility is expected to create over 275 direct employment opportunities and generate more than 300 indirect work avenues, significantly contributing to the local economy. This expansion marks a strategic milestone in BENZ Packaging’s journey, enabling the company to enhance its capabilities and meet the increasing demand for its diverse product range.

The much awaited India Warehousing Show (IWS) begins today at Yashobhoomi, India International Convention & Expo Centre (IICC), Dwarka, New Delhi. The three day show, open till 13 July is one of the premier events in the warehousing, logistics, and supply chain industry, IWS continues to provide a comprehensive platform for showcasing cutting-edge technologies, fostering industry connections, and driving business growth. Organized by RX India, IWS continues to be a cornerstone event for warehousing, material handling, logistics, automation, and supply chain professionals bringing the entire industry together under one roof. The 13th edition of IWS shall feature  a special address by Shri Surendra Ahirwar, Joint Secretary Logistics & Trade, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, who will share his insights on the evolving logistics landscape in India. His address will highlight the government’s initiatives to enhance the efficiency and competitiveness of the sector, aligning with the theme “Streamlining Tomorrow: Transforming Supply Chains through Automation. Speaking about the event Mr. Umang Gupta , Country General Manager, RX India said “With the warehousing & logistics sector becoming increasingly critical to national economy, the industry needs to collaborate across the economic value chain and focus on technological advancements for business growth. Over the decade, India Warehousing Show has become the flagship event that brings together policy makers, technology companies & infrastructure customers, all under one roof. The 13th edition of IWS is focused towards the rapidly evolving policy & technology landscape and aims to connect all stakeholders vital to the next stage of warehousing & logistics.” With over 250 exhibitors, IWS aims to offer an immersive experience and platform where participants can witness the latest technological advancements and live product demonstrations from the biggest national and international companies providing …

“India has positioned itself as a global hub for manufacturing, which is largely due to the country’s fast- growing economy and various government initiatives,” says Camilo Garcia Cervera, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer, IAG Cargo. He adds, “The country has become a global powerhouse producer of products such as pharma, perishables, healthcare, high tech, automotive, and aerospace. While there were disruptions during the pandemic, the industry is adapting and has been increasing capacity to support Indian businesses.”

According to ICRA’s latest reports, “Industrial and warehouse logistics park (IWLP) supply is estimated to grow 13-14% year-on-year at around 424 million square feet this fiscal in the eight primary markets, driven by strong demand.” The report stated, the absorption is likely to be 47 million square feet in FY25 as compared to 37 million square feet in the previous fiscal. The sector continues to witness a sustained demand from third-party logistics (3PL) and manufacturing sectors, which together accounted for around 65% of the total leased area as of March 2024 while the share of e-commerce stood at 15%. The growth projections are based on a sample set of ICRA’s rated-portfolio that includes 58 entities across 17 cities having total leasable area of around 34-million sq ft. It also said that among the eight primary markets, around 42 of the warehousing stock as of March 2024 was contributed by Mumbai and Delhi-NCR while the overall occupancy remained healthy at around 90%. The vacancy in the eight primary markets stood at 10% in FY24 and is likely to remain at a similar level in FY25, the report said.

  The Pune Airport will soon be launching its new terminal building, starting July 14, according to officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Currently, eight airlines operate from the Pune Airport. Air India and Air India Express will be the first to shift operations to the new building on July 14, said reports. The inaugural flight from the new terminal will be Air India’s AI – 858, heading to Delhi. Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, will personally hand over the first boarding pass to mark this milestone, reports added.

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) is set to win the rights to run a 5.7 million tonne(mt) capacity terminal for handling clean cargo including containers at Deendayal Port for 30 years by placing the highest royalty of Rs200 per ton when the price bids were opened last week. “The contract win will help APSEZ strengthen its presence in Deendayal Port (formerly Kandla Port) – India’s second biggest state-owned port by volumes handled – where it runs a dry bulk cargo terminal at Tuna Tekra, a satellite facility, says release.

“India’s high logistics costs, 14-18% of GDP compared to 8% for other global leaders, inflate domestic product prices,” says Sandeep Chadha, Founder and CEO, Warehouster. He adds, “These costs also hinder Indian exports and national logistics policy can streamline operations and reduce expenses, making Indian products more competitive internationally. A well-developed logistics network, stemming from a policy framework, can minimise the spoilage of agricultural products, a crucial mainstay of our supply-side economy, by ensuring quicker movement from farms to consumers, benefiting both farmers and consumers. The e-commerce boom, which thrives on fast deliveries, necessitates improved infrastructure for efficient warehousing and last-mile delivery. The success of e-commerce, with an estimated market size of US$57-60 billion in 2023 and projected to grow to US$300 billion by 2030, a CAGR of 20-22%, hinges on efficient logistics. Last-mile delivery, a crucial aspect here, benefits from the National Logistics Policy and advancements in coordination, offering faster deliveries, improved tracking, and greater reach, especially in remote areas.”

The global air cargo market is heading towards a ‘hot Q4’ of rate increases after a sixth straight month of double-digit demand growth in June, with a warning that shippers and forwarders ill-prepared for this year’s peak season may find themselves ‘at the mercy of the market,’ according to the latest analysis by Xeneta. Demand in June, measured in chargeable weight, was +13% year-on-year, continuing the upward trend seen throughout the first half of 2024. In contrast, cargo supply grew at its slowest pace in 2024, edging up only +3% year-on-year. As a result, the global air cargo dynamic load factor – Xeneta’s measurement of capacity utilisation based on volume and weight of cargo flown alongside available capacity – increased by +4% pts year-on-year.

According to a report by Shriram Finance Ltd, the heatwave, delayed monsoons, elections, coupled with high interest rates led to stress in rural hinterlands impacting logistics sector in June 2024. Providing details on the current status of the automobile and logistics sector, Shriram Finance in its July 2024 bulletin said that passenger vehicle sales experienced a notable decline of 6.77% YoY. Motor car sales declined by 9%. Truck rentals degree by 2.6% on the Mumbai-Kolkata-Mumbai route but saw a 4.1% increase on the Kolkata-Guwahati-Kolkata route.

  Dadri in Greater Noida will soon get a multimodal logistics hub as the UP government has plans to invest Rs 7064 crore to boost the trade in the region, said reports. Spread over 823 acres, the hub will include 455 acres designated as the core development area. The govt aims to make it the largest in the country, the reports added. The MMLH will work like a dry port where fast transit of goods and raw materials will be ensured. It will serve as a central hub for services such as container handling, warehousing, cold storage, processing, de-stuffing, stuffing, and value-added packing. It will also offer seamless rail connectivity and feature essential amenities including rail platforms, customs clearance, cargo segregation, truck parking areas, and extensive green spaces, said reports.