India has terminated the transshipment facility for Bangladesh’s export cargo, the decision was announced through a notification issued by the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC). The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) officially stated that transshipment facility extended to Bangladesh had over a period of time resulted in significant congestion at airports and ports. “Logistical delays and higher costs were hindering our own exports and creating backlogs. The facility, therefore, has been withdrawn w.e.f. April 8, 2025. To clarify, these measures do not impact Bangladesh exports to Nepal or Bhutan transiting through Indian territory,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a statement.

Kanpur’s Chakeri Airport will soon offer air cargo services to four cities namely Delhi, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Hyderabad by the end of this month. This has been a long-standing demand of local businesses who currently rely on Lucknow Airport for air freight. This new service, expected to start by the end of the month, will significantly reduce transportation costs and time for businesses, especially those in the leather industry exporting goods internationally. The move comes after persistent demands from entrepreneurs, especially those in the leather industry, who have long awaited direct cargo facilities from Kanpur. Until now, exporters had to rely on Lucknow Airport to ship goods domestically and internationally, incurring additional transportation costs and delays. With the new facility, leather and other products can be shipped directly from Kanpur, reducing time and expenses significantly. Airport Director Sanjay Kumar, in official reports confirmed that the cargo services will begin in the last week of this month. This is expected to boost local businesses and improve logistics efficiency in the region.

Interarch Building Products Limited has announced a strategic partnership with Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL) to redefine India’s urban infrastructure by promoting the use of steel as the preferred material for multi-story buildings, data centers, and heavy structures. This collaboration will leverage Interarch’s expertise in design, engineering, manufacturing and project management alongside JSPL’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities for the heavier structures, enabling the development of high-performance steel solutions. Together, the two companies aim to drive innovation in the construction industry by advocating for sustainable and efficient urban development practices. Steel is becoming the material of choice for modern urban construction due to its speed, strength, flexibility, and sustainability. The partnership between Interarch and JSPL seeks to address these demands by combining the former’s proficiency in PEB construction with the latter’s advanced steel production capabilities. Arvind Nanda, Founder and Managing Director of Interarch Building Products Limited, said: “Our partnership with Jindal Steel & Power marks a significant step in transforming India’s urban landscape. By enhancing the sustainability and efficiency of construction, we aim to support India’s vision for smarter, safer cities.” Ajay Agarwal, EVP, Construction Material Business, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, added: “This strategic partnership with Interarch underscores our commitment to transforming India’s urban infrastructure. By integrating our high-quality, innovative steel solutions with Interarch’s engineering expertise, we aim to set new benchmarks for sustainable, future-ready construction practices that meet the demands of a rapidly evolving nation.”  

US President Donald Trump’s decision to introduce a ‘major’ tariff on pharmaceutical imports from India, has left Indian pharma manufacturers and freight forwarders in state of distress and despair. As the decision would impact Indian pharma business in a big way, it will not only affect Indian pharma manufacturers but also US Consumers. It may lead to increase prices and shortage of drugs. It will also disturb global competitiveness. Reacting on it, Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “The proposed U.S. tariffs on pharmaceutical imports could significantly impact India, the third-largest producer and key supplier of generics, especially as the U.S. accounts for over 30% of Indian pharma exports. Higher tariffs may erode cost competitiveness and disrupt supply chains, affecting both Indian manufacturers and U.S. consumers. Given that Indian generics have saved the U.S. billions in healthcare costs, such tariffs may increase drug prices and strain global healthcare affordability.” Sharing similar sentiments, Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo added, “America is India’s largest export market for pharmaceutical goods. In FY 24, of India’s $27.9 billion worth of pharma exports, 31 per cent or $8.7 billion to the US, according to the Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India. It’s further apprehended that higher US tariffs on pharma imports could severely impact both Washington and New Delhi as they will raise production costs, eroding price competitiveness for manufacturers and higher prices for customers. Further, the Indian companies, operating on thin margins in the US generics space, may struggle to absorb costs and end up passing them on to US consumers or insurers. In conclusion, such a proposed tariff would overall result in a detrimental effect to both countries.”

The Air Cargo Agents Association of India’s President, C K Govil is proudly representing India as part of an elite delegation at International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), first forum in Turkey to discuss global trade and logistics. Led by esteemed officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry —Piyush Srivastava, O.P. Sharma, Ajay Kumar, and senior representatives from the Ministry of Civil Aviation — this delegation is a testament to India’s growing influence in shaping the future of global air cargo and logistics sectors. Govil’s presence reflects India’s commitment to becoming a global logistics powerhouse, and we’re proud to be part of this bold vision for the future. Govil also had the opportunity to meet Ian Saunders, Secretary General of the World Customs Organization. He extended a warm invitation to him for our upcoming FIATA RAP event next month — paving the way for deeper international engagement and partnership.” He said, “Under the Government of India’s initiative to emerge as a true global leader, I am honoured to be part of the delegation of this esteemed committee, led by Piyush Srivastava, O. P. Sharma, Ajay Kumar, and other senior officials from the Ministry, attending this significant event. With over 500 participants from nearly 80 countries, this global gathering reflects India’s growing stature on the international stage and our collective commitment to shaping the future of global trade and logistics.”  

As per Xen As per Xeneta’s latest findings, E-commerce volumes, for so long the saviour of global air cargo demand, are now facing up to the ‘seismic shock’ of the United States’ ‘Liberation Day’ global tariffs announcement, while the general cargo market is also reevaluating its future as shippers, forwarders, airlines, and consumers come to terms with the economic reality of new import taxes and a potential international trade war. US President, Donald Trump, yesterday confirmed the elimination of duty–free de minimis treatment for low-value imports from China and Hong Kong, starting 2 May 2025. All relevant postal items valued at or under USD 800 previously qualifying for the de minimis exemption will become subject to a duty rate of either 30% of their value or USD 25 per item (increasing to USD 50 per item after 1 June 2025). The announcement was one of many as President Trump imposed sweeping global import taxes on goods into the United States from 9 April 2025. Already reeling from the potential impact of the US’ actions, global air cargo demand is likely to suffer further harm from retaliatory actions by other countries. EU President, Ursula von der Leyen, called the US decision “a major blow for the world economy.” After more than a year of double-digit growth, air cargo now faces an uncertain future. “In my 30 years working in the air freight industry, I cannot remember any other unilateral trade policy decision with the potential to have such a profound impact on the market at a global level,” said Xeneta’s Chief Airfreight Officer, Niall van de Wouw. “E-commerce has been the main driver behind air cargo demand. If you suddenly and dramatically …

AVPL International has announced a $12 million investment to support the country’s growing drone ecosystem within the next 24 months. The company has set up 31 Drone Aero-Vision Labs in India, onboarded 30 Remote Pilot Training Organisations (RPTOs) across the country, laid the foundation stone to establish two manufacturing units, and is co-building a robust AI powered agriculture drone with IIT Kanpur. AVPL is also building India’s largest RPTO in Hisar, a ₹15 crore facility in Bihta, Bihar, alongside a key drone production unit in Hisar, Haryana. Together, these projects form part of AVPL’s broader vision to train the new generation of drone pilots and entrepreneurs, while boosting domestic manufacturing. The announcement was made at a launch event attended by Union Minister of State for Rural Development, Kamlesh Paswan, who visited the event to understand the on-ground implementation of drone didi scheme across the country, BJP National General Secretary, Tarun Chugh also attended the event virtually. Many industry leaders like Naveen Parashar (CMD, SN Capital) and Uday Pal Singh (CEO, Innovision Ltd.) also commended the company’s initiatives. “With drones transforming how we farm, build, and connect, this kind of investment helps equip our youth with future-ready skills,” said Paswan. “It’s a big step towards empowering rural India, and such initiatives will contribute immensely to the youth and women in our hinterlands.”  

IKEA Supply, part of Inter IKEA Group and BLR Logistiks, have deployed the first electric heavy-duty truck to run on the public road network in India. The deployment phase started in October 2024, and the truck recently completed its 100th journey transporting IKEA products between the port of Mumbai, the distribution centre (DC) in Pune, and the IKEA store in Mumbai. “Although the purchase price of electric vehicles is higher than diesel trucks, we have achieved higher efficiency and cost reductions in the long term. This is an important step for IKEA and a strong signal to the transport sector in India,” says Claes Lindgren, Acting Category Transport Manager, IKEA Supply Chain Operations. “Through a joint effort with our partner, we have optimised the route, ensuring the truck is used more on the road and less during idling in loading and unloading processes.” The deployment has been made possible through a close collaboration between IKEA and its carrier BLR Logistiks, as well as other partners. Apart from reducing greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, it has also generated significant efficiency gains: Reduced turnaround time from 2 to 1 days 16% cost reduction per year 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, totalling 206 tons, for the specific route each year Reduced empty runs by around 160,000 km per. In most cases, EV trucks have a significantly higher purchase price compared to traditional diesel trucks. Furthermore, large investments in charging infrastructure are usually required, and it is crucial to rethink route optimisation to ensure EV trucks idle as little as possible. Previously, the 120 km three-stop route was shared by two conventional trucks: one driving between the port and the DC and the …

According to Savills India’s latest report, leasing of logistics and industrial spaces rose 18.5 per cent in January-March this year to 160 lakh square feet across 24 cities on better demand. The leasing of industrial and logistics spaces stood at 135 lakh square feet in the year-ago period across 24 tier I-II-III cities. Real estate consultant Savills India data showed that Tier-I cities accounted for 79 per cent of the leasing activities, while Tier-II and Tier-III cities contributed 21 per cent. Tier- I cities include Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Mumbai, Delhi-NCR, and Pune. Tier- II and Tier-III cities include Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Hosur, Coimbatore, Rajpura, Lucknow, Jaipur, Nagpur, Surat, Indore, Kochi, Hubli, Vizag, Belgaum and Anantapur. Savills noted that manufacturing segment accounted for 30 per cent of the total absorption of industrial and logistics spaces in January-March 2025, followed by the 3PL (third-party logistics) players at 26 per cent, retail segment 12 per cent, e-commerce segment 10 per cent and FMCG & FMCD segment at 9 per cent. Moreover, the new supply of industrial & logistics spaces rose 23 per cent to 159 lakh square feet in January-March 2025 from 129 lakh square feet in the corresponding period of the preceding year. In the new supply, the data showed that Tier-I cities contributed a substantial 12.4 million square feet (78 per cent and Tier-II and Tier-III cities added 3.6 million sq ft (22 per cent).

DHL Group has announced a strategic investment of €2 billion over the next five years to enhance its logistics capabilities in the life sciences and healthcare sector. This investment supports the Group’s ‘Strategy 2030’ and reinforces DHL’s commitment to helping healthcare customers grow, innovate, and serve patients more effectively worldwide. With 25 per cent of the investment allocated to the Asia Pacific, 50 per cent to Americas, and 25 per cent to the EMEA region, DHL is expanding its global footprint to deliver integrated, faster, more reliable, and patient-centric logistics solutions wherever healthcare companies operate. The investment will focus on enhancing high-quality infrastructure and technology across all logistics touchpoints – from storage, order fulfillment, and distribution to global shipping and last-mile delivery – creating even more resilient, scalable, and responsive supply chains for customers. A significant part of the investment will be allocated to establishing new cross-divisional GPD-certified Pharma Hubs for multi-temperature shipments lanes, expanding cold chain capacity in existing facilities, commissioning new temperature-controlled vehicles, and enhancing both passive and active packaging solutions to ensure sustainable delivery.  As the demand grows in critical areas such as clinical trials, biopharma, and cell and gene therapies, DHL is also investing in high-quality, specialized cooling infrastructure to accommodate low and ultra-low temperature ranges. Additionally, the Group will implement cutting-edge IT systems that provide end-to-end visibility, ensuring product integrity, regulatory compliance, and confidence for healthcare providers and their patients. With its new sector brand DHL Health Logistics, the Group consolidates its life sciences and healthcare expertise under one unified umbrella. This creates a seamless, end-to-end experience for customers, simplifying the management of complex, cross-border supply chains with confidence, agility and high-quality service. The approach …