13 Mar 2026

Indian pharmaceutical exporters have urged the government to introduce freight subsidies and provide logistical support as escalating shipping costs threaten the competitiveness of drug shipments to overseas markets, particularly West Asia. The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) said freight rates have risen sharply due to disruptions in maritime routes and increased insurance costs linked to geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region. Exporters are facing surcharges ranging from USD 4,000 to USD 8,000 per shipment, significantly increasing logistics expenses. The West Asia and North Africa region accounts for about 5.5% of India's pharmaceutical exports and remains a key destination for generic medicines. Industry bodies have warned that continued disruption to shipping routes could lead to export losses of up to INR 2,500-5,000 crore and have sought government intervention to stabilise logistics costs and maintain export momentum.Read more

12 Mar 2026

Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group's commercial vehicle manufacturer, has announced plans to invest between INR 400 crore and INR 500 crore to establish a greenfield electric vehicle battery pack manufacturing facility at Pillaipakkam near Chennai, Tamil Nadu. The company held the groundbreaking ceremony for the facility earlier this week as part of the Hinduja Group's broader investment commitments under a memorandum of understanding signed with the Tamil Nadu government in September 2025. The plant is intended to support localisation of EV battery pack production and strengthen the domestic electric mobility supply chain. Ashok Leyland stated that the project aligns with Tamil Nadu's Electric Vehicle Policy 2023 and national initiatives such as the National Mission on Transformative Mobility and Battery Storage, which aim to expand India's EV manufacturing ecosystem and support the country's long-term net-zero emissions target for 2070.Read more

11 Mar 2026

Export cargo worth about INR 345 crore destined for Iran is currently stranded at Gujarat's Kandla and Mundra ports due to disruptions in shipping operations caused by the ongoing West Asian crisis. The government informed Parliament that consignments including rice, tea and pharmaceuticals remain stuck as vessel movement has been affected. Data shared in the Lok Sabha indicated that around 35,962 tonnes of cargo valued at INR 305.67 crore is lying at Kandla port, while 5,676 tonnes worth INR 40.72 crore is awaiting shipment at Mundra port. Officials stated that the conflict involving Iran has disrupted maritime logistics in the region, affecting cargo movement. Iran remains a major buyer of Indian basmati rice, making the disruption significant for exporters and agricultural trade.Read more

10 Mar 2026

Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) has signed a licence agreement with East Horizon Pvt Ltd to develop a floating storage and regasification unit (FSRU) at the Haldia Dock Complex with an investment of around INR 260 crore. The agreement, executed on March 6, is aimed at strengthening liquefied natural gas (LNG) infrastructure in eastern India and supporting the region's transition towards cleaner energy sources. The proposed facility will enable the import, storage and regasification of LNG before supplying it into onshore pipelines for distribution. Port officials said the project is expected to enhance LNG handling capabilities at Haldia while contributing to the national objective of increasing the share of natural gas in India's energy mix. The development forms part of wider efforts to expand gas infrastructure and support industrial energy demand in eastern India.Read more

10 Mar 2026

Global ports and logistics operator DP World has introduced alternative land transport arrangements to ensure cargo movement to Jebel Ali Port in Dubai as geopolitical tensions in West Asia disrupt maritime logistics across the Gulf region. Under the temporary contingency plan, import containers can be discharged at UAE ports on the eastern coast, including Khorfakkan and Fujairah, and transported by bonded road transit to Jebel Ali for final customs clearance. The measure is aimed at maintaining supply chain continuity for exporters and shipping lines facing operational uncertainties in the region. Jebel Ali is the Middle East's largest container port and a major transhipment hub connecting trade routes across Asia, Europe and Africa. The alternative routing arrangement is expected to support cargo flows while maritime operations in parts of the Gulf face disruptions linked to the ongoing regional security situation.Read more

09 Mar 2026

Warehousing leasing activity in Kolkata declined 30% year-on-year in 2025 to 4.6 million sq ft from 6.5 million sq ft in 2024, largely due to elevated land prices and constrained availability of Grade A facilities, according to a report by Knight Frank India. Despite the drop in transactions, the consultancy noted that the city's logistics market remains structurally strong, supported by infrastructure improvements and evolving occupier demand. Third-party logistics (3PL) and e-commerce continued to drive demand, while the manufacturing sector increased its share of leasing activity. Dankuni remained the dominant warehousing cluster, accounting for the majority of leasing activity due to its strategic connectivity and established logistics ecosystem.Read more

01 Mar 2026

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved three railway multitracking projects worth INR 9,072 crore to strengthen rail infrastructure in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Covering about 307 kilometres, the projects aim to ease congestion, improve passenger movement and enhance freight capacity by an additional 52 million tonnes annually. Around 5,407 villages with a population of nearly 9.8 million are expected to benefit. The upgrades, targeted for completion by 2030, are aligned with the PM Gati Shakti plan to improve logistics efficiency and reduce transport-related emissions.Read more

26 Feb 2026

SATS has finalized its cargo logistics facility at Noida International Airport, ahead of the airport's inauguration next month, with nearly INR 1,000 crore already invested. The company plans an additional INR 600 crore to build an integrated logistics park providing end-to-end airfreight services. Through its AI-SATS joint venture, SATS aims to establish Uttar Pradesh as a global aviation hub. Leveraging its global network of 225 locations, SATS seeks to link the state's agricultural, industrial, and service sectors with international markets, while transferring advanced logistics practices and technologies to local operations.Read more

25 Feb 2026

The Uttar Pradesh government has signed an MoU with AISATS to invest INR 4,458 crore in two major aviation projects at Jewar airport. The initiatives include a modern cargo campus aimed at making Jewar a hub for air freight and logistics in northern India and a world-class air catering unit supplying multiple airports. The projects are expected to boost exports, strengthen trade connectivity, support food processing and supply chains, and generate substantial employment. The agreement reflects the state's ongoing efforts to attract global investment and enhance its economic infrastructure.Read more

24 Feb 2026

Uttar Pradesh has secured three major investment agreements with Singapore's Universal Success Group, totaling INR 6,650 crore, during the chief minister's visit to Singapore. The projects include a theme-based township near Jewar International Airport, a logistics park along the Kanpur-Lucknow Highway, and a hyperscale data centre in Noida/Greater Noida. Together, these projects are expected to create over 20,000 jobs and bolster the state's industrial and urban infrastructure. Officials described the MoUs as pivotal for accelerating economic growth, improving connectivity, and reinforcing Uttar Pradesh's position as an emerging industrial and technological hub.Read more