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FedEx deploys EVs in Mumbai to boost last mile deliveries

Federal Express Corporation (FedEx) is enhancing sustainable logistics in India by deploying additional electric vehicles (EVs) in Mumbai for last-mile delivery. The recent addition of 13 TATA Ace EVs in Mumbai brings the total number of electric vehicles in operation across key Indian cities, including Delhi and Bengaluru, to 59. These efforts align with the FedEx goal to achieve carbon neutral operations globally bu 2040. “FedEx was the first global delivery company to introduce hybrid-electric vehicles back in 2003, and our journey with battery-powered vehicles began even earlier in 1994,” said Suvendu Choudhury, vice president operations and planning and engineering, India, FedEx. “Building on this legacy, we’re proud to do our part in reducing emissions and advancing sustainable logistics in India. Our phased, pragmatic approach to fleet electrification ensures we continue to deliver for our customers while minimizing our carbon footprint.” In a move that combines sustainability with brand synergy, FedEx has unveiled FedEx-CSK co-branded EVs in Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, reinforcing its commitment to delivering goods responsibly. As an Official Sponsor of the Chennai Super Kings, this initiative represents a powerful connection between two brands built on speed, precision, and excellence. These co-branded vehicles amplify the company’s presence in India, reinforcing its ongoing investment in the market. Electric vehicles are revolutionizing logistics by providing a smart, clean, and efficient solution for last-mile deliveries. Beyond reducing carbon emissions and air pollution, they align with the growing consumer preference for sustainable business practices. Consumer expectations for sustainability are rising, with research commissioned by FedEx revealing that 90% of Indian consumers prefer businesses that prioritize sustainable practices—making EV adoption a strategic advantage. By continuing to expand its EV fleet, FedEx is advancing …

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CargoAi unveils CargoMART Interline to enhance airlines connectivity

CargoAi is proud to announce the launch of CargoMART Interline, a groundbreaking solution that streamlines and enhances interline cargo bookings. Now live with multiple airlines, including Emirates SkyCargo, this innovative tool digitises and automates interline capacity checks and e-bookings, unlocking new revenue opportunities and setting a new industry standard. For decades, the air cargo industry relied on manual interline booking methods, communicated through emails and phone calls, and fragmented systems to finalise interline bookings. This led to operational bottlenecks, missed revenue, and limited scalability. CargoMART Interline will transform this approach. With CargoMART Interline, airlines can now: ✅ Instantly check and book interline capacity – No more emails or phone confirmations. ✅ Optimize revenue with seamless interline partnerships – Unlock additional capacity with minimal effort. ✅ Scale efficiently using existing APIs – No heavy IT investment required, easy onboarding. ✅ Prepare for the next step: direct interline booking for freight forwarders – Expanding airline reach on pre-approved lanes. CargoMART Interline was developed and rigorously tested with Emirates SkyCargo, a key partner in shaping this game-changing solution. However, the platform is not exclusive—it is designed for rapid adoption by any airline with API connectivity (107 currently available with CargoAi), ensuring quick implementation with minimal technical effort.

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Welspun One secures Rs 2300 cr funding for MMLP at JNPA

Welspun One has secured Rs 2,300 crore construction financing from the National Bank for Financing Infrastructure and Development (NaBFID) for its flagship logistics park project at Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA). The JNPA logistics park, spanning 55 acres, is its largest logistics development in India, it said. The funding by NaBFID is a 22-year term loan project. “While we have financed other warehousing projects, this project is unique as it comes up in a SEZ and is being built to international standards,” said Samuel Joseph, DMD, NaBFID. Located within the JNPA Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Navi Mumbai, with a total development potential of over 3.6 million square feet, the industrial and warehousing facility will cater to e-commerce, 3PL, FMCG, and manufacturing sectors. Securing this funding ensures the timely execution of the JNPA project, reinforcing Welspun One’s commitment to large-scale infrastructure development, the company said in its statement. “This park will set new benchmarks in efficiency and scalability, supporting India’s growing demand for high-quality warehousing solutions. With NaBFID’s support, we are positioned to accelerate execution, while continuing to drive long-term value for our stakeholders,” said Anshul Singhal, Co-Founder and Managing Director, Welspun One.  Comments

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Dachser records 14% YoY growth driven by air & sea freight

With large acquisitions and developments, Dachser grew significantly in 2024, with sales growth of 13 per cent lifting revenue above the 8 billion mark to EUR 8.027 billion. The family-owned company also recorded significant year-over-year increase in other key figures such as headcount (+3,300), locations (+56), and pallet spaces in its warehouses (+720,000). This growth is largely due to the acquisitions of DACHSER & FERCAM Italia, Frigoscandia, and Brummer, which will appear on the balance sheet for the first time in 2024. In purely organic terms, i.e., excluding acquisitions, Dachser grew by 4.7 percent compared to the previous year. This was driven by resilience in its European groupage network and rate increases in air and sea freight. Transported volumes rose by 7.6 percent to approximately 83.2 million shipments, while tonnage increased by 10.2 percent to some 44.1 million. Business development would have been more dynamic, but there was a lack of growth impetus from Germany and Europe: “High costs, weak industrial production, and a decline in personal consumption have also had an impact on our business. Moreover, the many crises we face around the world today have been a constant stress test for our customers, and hence also for us,” says Burkhard Eling, Dachser CEO.

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BLR Airport handles 500K MT cargo, records 14% YoY growth

  Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (BLR Airport) has achieved significant milestones in cargo operations for the financial year 2024-25 (FY’25). The airport surpassed 500,000 metric tonnes (MT) of cargo, underscoring its growing importance as a key aviation gateway for both passengers and cargo in the region. The airport handled a total of 502,480 MT of cargo in the financial year 2024-25 (FY’25). This achievement marks a notable 14% year-on-year growth, reinforcing the Airport’s position as a key logistics hub for both India and global trade. Cargo growth was driven by a 21% rise in international cargo, totalling 321,418 MT, while domestic cargo grew 4%, reaching 181,062 MT. For the fourth consecutive year, BLR Airport retains its position as India’s No.1 Airport for perishable exports, reinforcing its role in strengthening the country’s agricultural supply chain. The Airport continues to lead in mango and coriander exports, with cargo demand further driven by ready-made garments, pharmaceuticals, and machinery parts.With 12 dedicated freighter airlines, BLR Airport ensures efficient global connectivity, linking major export hubs like Singapore, London, Frankfurt, Chicago, and Muscat, while key imports flow in from Shenzhen, Singapore, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Frankfurt. Satyaki Raghunath, Chief Operating Officer, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), added, ““We are excited about the growth of aviation in Bengaluru and India. We believe that BLR Airport is very well placed to serve as the preferred gateway to South and Central India, and our investment in expanding airside, landside, and terminal capacity positions us perfectly for growth over the next few years. With an investment of over 17,000 crores over the next five years, we are well-prepared to support the rising demands of passenger and cargo traffic in the …

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Delhivery acquires Ecom Express to enhance speed, cost efficiency

In a major development, Delhivery has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a controlling stake in Ecom Express for a cash consideration of Rs. 1,400 Cr from its shareholders. Sahil Barua, MD and CEO, Delhivery said, “The Indian economy requires continuous improvements in cost efficiency, speed and reach of logistics. We believe this acquisition will enable us to service customers of both companies better, through continued bold investments in infrastructure, technology, network and people. The founders and management of Ecom Express have established a high quality network and team, creating a strong foundation to integrate into Delhivery’s operations.” K. Satyanarayana, founder – Ecom Express said, “Delhivery is among India’s leading fully-integrated logistics service providers with significant scale advantages and will be the ideal shareholder for Ecom Express’ next phase of growth. With this acquisition and its inherent synergies, businesses across India as well as the logistics industry itself will benefit immensely through the combination of two like-minded players.” The completion of the transaction is subject to approval from the Competition Commission of India, and customary closing conditions. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. acted as the legal advisor and Ernst & Young acted as the financial and tax diligence advisor to Delhivery on this transaction.

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‘It may boost market diversification & strengthen India’s trade resilience

Reshma Zaheer, CEO, TT Logistics and Cargo, “Trump’s proposed 26% tariff on Indian exports adds pressure on key air cargo sectors like pharma, textiles, and gems. While this poses short-term challenges, it may accelerate market diversification and strengthen India’s trade resilience. With active FTA negotiations underway, in my view and as we have demonstrated in the past, India’s air export sector has the agility to adapt and sustain growth despite shifting geopolitical winds.”

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‘Pushback on Indian exports will affect FTWZs, SMEs may suffer too’

Mohit Kapoor, Chair- Projects and Events Committee, Warehousing Association of India said, “Higher tariffs disrupt predictability for third-party logistics (3PL) players and freight forwarders. As clients recalibrate their US-focused strategies, Indian logistics operators face uncertainty in volumes and scheduling. Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), often dependent on US trade corridors, bear the brunt of warehousing rent pressures, longer storage periods, and altered fulfillment cycles. The pushback on Indian exports also affects Free Trade Warehousing Zones (FTWZs), which are designed to facilitate global trade. Lower US-bound traffic threatens the viability of these FTWZs, making it imperative to diversify toward alternate geographies or value-added services. Despite these challenges, a notable silver lining emerges when viewed in a broader Asian context. Countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, and even China have been subjected to steeper and more sweeping US tariffs—sometimes nearly double the rates imposed on Indian goods. This offers India a relative competitive advantage in certain key sectors where US buyers are seeking reliable alternative sourcing options.”

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‘An anticipated decline in exports may cut air cargo volumes & value’

Vipin Vohra, Chairman, Continental Carriers said, “The new U.S. tariffs—26% on Indian imports and 10% baseline on all global goods—pose significant implications for India’s air cargo trade. High-value, time-sensitive sectors like textiles & apparel, gems & jewellery and pharmaceuticals will see reduced competitiveness, impacting air export volumes. An anticipated decline in exports may lead to a notable contraction in annual air cargo trade volumes and value. Freight forwarders and Airlines may face capacity underutilization and rerouting challenges as exporters explore alternative markets. On the import side, higher U.S. duties may affect goods routed through re-export hubs, reducing inbound air freight demand. However, India’s growing domestic consumption and diversification into Middle East, Europe, and Africa offer partial offsets.

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‘Air cargo volumes from India to the U.S. of pharma, gems, apparel, auto declined’

Nihar Parida, Director, Strategy & Development at Uniworld Logistics affirmed, “The U.S. tariffs on Indian goods—especially pharma, gems, apparel, and auto components—have led to a measurable decline in air cargo volumes from India to the U.S., as costs rise, and buyers adjust sourcing strategies. This may lead to a long-term restructuring of India’s export logistics, with a greater emphasis on cost-efficiency and diversification of trade partners.  Pharmaceuticals:  Many generics and APIs faced stricter compliance and the loss of GSP benefits earlier but are now under a broader 10–26% tariff range. Gems & Jewelry: Historically duty-free under GSP, now subject to full MFN tariffs plus possible additional duties (up to 26%). Textiles & Apparel: With the GSP revoked and new tariffs added, Indian garments face tariffs of 15–25%. Auto Components: Facing new 25% tariffs under Section 232. Leather Goods & Footwear: Tariffs raised to 20–30%, especially on leather wallets, belts, and shoes. Let’s wait and see how it evolves. India could be a gainer in this as Mobile phone exports will increase due to Vietnam and China having higher taxes. Textile might increase due to Bangladesh Tariffs. But at the same time are we poised for more manufacturing is a question.

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