V. Chandra Kumar, Founder & Managing Director Active Freight Logistics, India stressed, “With global manufacturers looking for tariff-friendly alternatives, India is well-positioned to capitalise on this shift. The country’s growing industrial base, improving trade infrastructure and government incentives make it an attractive destination for companies seeking to diversify away from China and Vietnam. Industry experts suggest that India must act swiftly to enhance manufacturing capabilities, streamline customs processes and attract global investment to cement its position as a leading trade and logistics hub in the evolving world order. As businesses realign strategies, the coming months will be critical for countries vying for a larger share of global trade. Whether India can fully seize this opportunity will depend on policy reforms, infrastructure development, and the ability to integrate into global supply chains efficiently.”  

Kamal Jain, Director, Cargomen Logistics shared, “The United States imposed reciprocal tariffs may appear concerning at first glance, the actual impact on India’s overall exports to the U.S. is expected to be limited. Key export categories such as pearls, precious metals, minerals, pharmaceuticals, and electronics already face low U.S. tariffs (0–5%), helping cushion the effect. Interestingly, in some cases, these tariffs may even enhance the competitiveness of Indian products, especially if global competitors face steeper duties. However, it’s important to remember that such unilateral reciprocal tariff actions are not aligned with WTO principles, which are designed to ensure free, fair, and rules-based global trade. The bigger question remain, should trade be governed by reciprocity or by cooperation?

C K Govil, President, ACAAI said, “The impact of U.S. trade tariffs on Indian air cargo EXIM (Export-Import) trade is multifaceted, influencing both opportunities and challenges for the industry. Negative impact could be higher costs for Indian exporters as increased tariffs on Indian goods—such as steel, aluminum, and certain textiles make them less competitive in the U.S. market, potentially leading to a decline in export volumes via air cargo. Tariff uncertainty causes fluctuations in demand, impacting freight forwarders, air cargo handlers, and exporters. Volatility in trade policies forces businesses to frequently adjust logistics strategies. Some Indian exporters may shift focus to non-U.S. markets, affecting established air cargo routes and reducing volume on traditional U.S.-bound shipments. Positive impact could be Opportunities in trade diversion, as U.S.-China trade tensions continue, Indian exporters in sectors like electronics, pharmaceuticals, and engineering goods may benefit from increased demand. This could boost air cargo volumes from India to the U.S. India is increasingly exporting high-value goods like pharmaceuticals, IT hardware, and perishables. Despite tariffs, demand for such critical goods remains strong, sustaining air cargo movements. Companies are optimising supply chains by integrating multimodal logistics (air-sea, air-land) to offset tariff-related costs, leading to new opportunities for air freight operators. India has been proactive in negotiating trade agreements with the U.S. to mitigate tariff impacts. The India-U.S. trade dialogue and initiatives like the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) could lead to tariff relaxations, benefitting air cargo. Indian exporters and air cargo players are investing in agility, technology, and alternative trade routes to mitigate risks. Overall, while U.S. tariffs create short-term disruptions, India’s air cargo EXIM sector is adapting by diversifying markets and strengthening supply chain resilience.

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo said, “The imposition of trade tariff by President Trump on India may adversely hit exports of agriculture, machinery, textiles, pharma, electrical, chemical, auto parts, gems & jewellery sectors apart from sizable volumes of seafood. However, the experts still anticipate silver lining in the above tariff in regard to India’s cargo trade interest as the US’s tariffs might actually open up opportunities through shifts in global supply chains. But simultaneously India needs to improve ease of doing business apart from investing in logistics & infrastructure to achieve optimal productivity and business advantages. The FIEO agrees that the tariffs do create challenges for Indian exporters’ yet India is still better placed than many of its global competitors. Further, the retarded pace of exports may accelerate the activities in the domestic market to the benefits of the manufacturer which might help them in offsetting the exports slowdown.

Çelebi India announced its selection as the ground handling partner for SF Airlines at Kempegowda International Airport (BLR), Bengaluru. SF Airlines will initially operate one weekly cargo flight connecting Bengaluru to Ezhou Huahu Airport – China, with plans to expand to two weekly flights starting April 2025. Çelebi India has a longstanding presence at Kempegowda International Airport, providing top-tier ground handling services to various airlines. In Delhi, SF Cargo is handled by Celebi Delhi Cargo Terminal Management India. SF Airlines has chosen Çelebi to support its growing operations in India, reinforcing a shared commitment to operational excellence and efficiency. The airline’s decision to partner with Çelebi for its ground handling needs at this critical juncture highlights Çelebi’s proven expertise in cargo handling and its reputation as the preferred partner for leading global air cargo carriers. Over the years, Çelebi has become the trusted ground handling partner for major international cargo airlines operating in India, including, Turkish Cargo, FedEx, UPS, Quikjet, Sichuan Airlines and Ethiopian Cargo. This latest collaboration with SF Airlines is a testament to Çelebi’s commitment to efficiency, safety, and service excellence. Tauseef Khan, CEO – Çelebi Ground Handling — India, commented on the expansion, “Çelebi is actively scaling up its capacity and investing in advanced processes and digitalization to ensure efficient handling of the increasing cargo volumes that BIAL envisions. We are honoured to be selected as the ground handling partner for SF Airlines at Bengaluru Airport. This collaboration underscores our reputation as a trusted name in Freighter Handling, both globally and in India. With SF Airlines expanding its operations in the region, Çelebi is committed to delivering seamless, high-quality services that meet the evolving demands of the …

CargoTalk proudly announces its appointment as an official media partner for the upcoming FIATA Region Asia-Pacific (RAP) Meeting being held in New Delhi from 21 to 24 May 2025. Jointly organised by the FIATA and The Air Cargo Agents Association of India, (ACAAI), the event serves as a premier gathering for logistics professionals, freight forwarders, and trade associations across the region. This event offers a platform to discuss supply chain innovation, industry challenges, and future opportunities. Key highlights include insightful discussions and networking opportunities with top industry professionals from across the globe.  

With trade wars and geopolitical tensions affecting traditional trade routes like those between the US and China, the air cargo industry has diversified its operations to new and alternative regions for instance, cargo flows to emerging markets in Africa and South America, have increased,” said Delhi International Airport’s official spokesperson.  He added, “Airlines have had to re-route flights to avoid regions affected by geopolitical tensions, such as the Middle East. This has resulted in the search for more stable and predictable corridors, which may require longer or less direct flights, but ultimately ensure the continuity of services. Cargo flow through Indian airports have improved as it was found to be a more stable route. In response to tariffs and geopolitical tensions, many companies have sought to shorten supply chains by nearshoring production closer to end markets. For instance, companies have increasingly moved manufacturing from China to countries like Vietnam, India, and even Mexico, which has increased demand for air cargo services to these regions.”

Our ministry’s goal is to transform India Post into India’s leading logistics organisation, serving both MSMEs and the largest e-commerce players, said, Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister for Communications, recently while addressing the Head of Circles Conclave in Mumbai. Scindia noted that India Post had laid the foundation for the country’s communication system and is now undergoing a paradigm shift to become a profitable and future-ready organisation. Stating that India Post’s future lies in becoming a fast, reliable and economical service provider, playing a key role in the country’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat,’ Scindia stressed the importance of adopting technology, process re-engineering and active collaboration from all circles in this transformation. The minister has further called for detailed business plans from all circles to address the Department’s financial challenges and shift towards profitability. The conclave was attended by Secretary Posts, Vandita Kaul; Director General Postal Services, Jitendra Gupta; Members of the Postal Board, Chief Postmaster Generals and other senior officials. The officers participated in four key group discussions, each aimed at addressing crucial areas such as mail and parcel services, financial inclusion, Postal Life Insurance and citizen-centric services.

DP World’s Container Terminal (ICTT) in Cochin has set an all-time high-volume record in FY 2024-25, handling 834,665 TEUs, registering around 11 per cent year-on-year growth. The earlier record was 754,237 TEUS achieved in the previous financial year. The transshipment volume also set a new record at 169,562 TEUS. Volume records were also set across various business segments, including foreign exports, coastal exports, reefer volumes, and the highest single-vessel volume transaction. DP World Cochin recorded one of the highest number of vessels calls per annum in South and East India at 640, reinforcing its pivotal role in regional trade and supply chain efficiency during this period. In the FY 2024-25, DP World Cochin has significantly expanded its capacity with strategic infrastructure upgrades, including the introduction of new Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes, electrified Rubber-Tyred Gantry Cranes (e-RTGs), and an expanded yard space—boosting the terminal’s total capacity to ~ 1.4 million TEUs. The terminal’s power infrastructure upgrades from 3 MVA to 5 MVA ensures seamless operations during peak demand, while the 100% electrification of yard cranes along with the in-house solar plant reduces the carbon footprint for cargo, offering customers a sustainability-driven competitive edge. DP World also successfully handled multiple Ultra Large Container Vessels (ULCVs) over 350 meters in length in the past year, demonstrating its ability to accommodate growing trade volumes. Additionally, Kerala’s first Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ)—India’s only such facility within a major port—has achieved a significant milestone by handling 2,255 metric tons of cargo in FY2024-25.  This reinforces FTWZ’s role as a key enabler of trade efficiency and economic growth in the region. Commenting on the successful performance, Praveen Joseph, CEO, DP World Ports & Terminals, Cochin, said, “We …

KPMG’s latest report, The Great Reset: Emerging Trends in Infrastructure and Transport 2025 highlights the growing role of digital twins in infrastructure. These digital replicas are rapidly becoming integral to infrastructure decision-making, allowing organisations to improve operational efficiency, predictive maintenance, and long-term planning. KPMG predicts that digital twins will become a cornerstone of business operations in the next three years. A significant talent gap continues to plague the construction and infrastructure sectors. The report highlights the need for a workforce capable of driving innovation and adapting to new technologies. Many companies are struggling to attract digitally-savvy talent and will need to invest in training programs to meet growing demand. KPMG forecasts significant changes to infrastructure systems, driven by a combination of climate change, evolving economic conditions, and rapid technological innovation. The report urges infrastructure leaders to adopt bold, risk-taking strategies and rethink traditional practices in order to thrive in a world of uncertainty.