Cargo operations fuelled by booming e-commerce in India

The country’s air cargo movement has witnessed growth, which was propelled by an amalgamation of innovation, futuristic approach, strategies and resilience. Perishables items, such as exports of foodgrains, spices and fresh produce sustaining volumes. While textile and apparel industry is continuing to thrive, growth of electronics, manufacturing and e-commerce logistics is boosting domestic cargo flow, supported by improved infrastructure and policy reforms. Together, they power new era of cargo movements, enhance connectivity and economic resilience.

- Ritika Arora Bhola

From Assamese tea leaves, Himachal Pradesh's apples, Andhra Pradesh seafood, electronics and automobiles from Tamil Nadu—the domestic and EXIM trade for consumer durables, FMCG, and time-sensitive shipments have seen a remarkable growth in recent years.

As per reports, in 2024-2025, air cargo volumes surged to 3.4 million metric tonnes (MMT), marking a 7 per cent year-over-year increase, with international cargo operations rising by 10 per cent. This growth is largely fuelled by the booming e-commerce industry, time-sensitive products and fast moving consumer goods and improvements in infrastructure for cargo handling and movement.

The government's ‘Make in India’ and ‘Self-reliant India’ played a pivotal role in making the industry leaders realise their potential and capabilities. These initiatives provided a much-needed push to these sectors to drive growth out of India. Simultaneously, to keep up with the rising demand, airports and carriers also ramped up their capacity, invested in world-class technology and infrastructure to ensure ease of doing business (EoDB), reduced costs and enhanced operational efficiency. Today, the world seeks to ship to India, primarily because of the favourable market conditions, reduced costs, easily available workforce and geographical condition. The PM Gati Shakti Masterplan has played a transformative role in India's cargo logistics by enabling integrated, multimodal infra planning and execution. Through the masterplan's framework, India has seen enhanced alignment between air, road, and rail connectivity—facilitating efficient cargo movement and reducing transit bottlenecks.