India–US Air Cargo Volumes Jump 15% in Late January Despite Tariffs

 

India’s air cargo exports to the United States climbed 15 per cent year on year in the week of January 19–25, 2026, extending the strong momentum seen through the closing months of 2025, according to WorldACD’s Weekly Air Cargo Trends. This growth came despite higher US tariffs introduced in the second half of last year, underscoring the resilience of India–US trade lanes and sustained demand for time-sensitive exports.

India remained the largest origin market within the broader Middle East and South Asia region in week 4, as total air freight tonnages from the region rose 10 per cent year on year. Shipments from Middle East and South Asia to the US were up 11 per cent, while exports to Europe increased 7 per cent compared with the same week a year earlier, pointing to broad-based strength in outbound flows.

Globally, air cargo demand stabilised after the usual year-end dip, with worldwide chargeable weight up 1 per cent week on week and 3 per cent higher year on year. Capacity, however, expanded faster at 6 per cent above last year’s level, keeping average freight rates under pressure; global rates were 1 per cent lower year on year even though they edged up 2 per cent week on week to 2.43 dollars per kilo.

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WorldACD noted that volumes from Asia-Pacific to the US and Europe flattened in week 4 after two weeks of strong recovery, with flows to the US marginally lower year on year and shipments to Europe still ahead of last year’s levels. For Indian exporters, the latest figures suggest that, despite tariff-related headwinds and shifting capacity dynamics, the India–US air cargo corridor continues to offer robust uplift for key product categories moving by air.

Centre bets on inland waterways, coastal shipping to drive logistics efficiency The Union Budget aims to enhance logistics efficiency by boosting inland waterways and coastal shipping, targeting a significant modal shift. By T E Raja Simhan

 

The 2026-27 Union Budget has provided a major boost to the Inland Waterways Transport (IWT), with 20 new national waterways to be operationalised over the next five years.

Despite being economical and cost effective, only 2-3 per cent of the country’s overall freight movement is through IWT. Road transport has a lion’s share of nearly 65 per cent and followed by rail at 26 per cent, said sources.

Freight corridors

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her Budget speech to promote environmentally sustainable movement of cargo, proposed establishing new dedicated freight corridors connecting Dankuni in the East to Surat in the West. Further, starting with NW-5 in Odisha to connect mineral rich areas of Talcher and Angul and industrial centres like Kalinga Nagar to the Ports of Paradeep and Dhamra.

A coastal cargo promotion scheme will be launched to incentivise a modal shift from rail and road, to increase the share of inland waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047.

Coupled with new dedicated freight corridors and incentives for coastal and inland shipping, the Budget is clearly targeting logistics efficiency and modal shift. The challenge now lies in execution — particularly in translating ship repair hubs, container manufacturing and coastal cargo incentives into a competitive and viable domestic maritime ecosystem, Jagannarayan Padmanabhan, Senior Director & Global Head, Consulting, Crisil Intelligence on Ports and Shipping.

Coastal shipping

According to Suresh Kumar, MD, Allcargo Terminals Ltd, as inland waterways and coastal shipping gain scale, locally manufactured containers — a major push given in the Budget — can support smoother cargo movement across road, rail and water, improving modal efficiency and lowering overall logistics costs.

India has about 14,500 km of navigable waterways which consist of rivers, canals, backwaters, creeks, etc. About 145.5 million tonnes (MMT) of cargo is being moved annually by IWT, a fuel-efficient and environment-friendly mode.

Its operations are currently restricted to a few stretches in the Ganga-Bhagirathi-Hooghly rivers, the Brahmaputra, the Barak river, the rivers in Goa, the backwaters in Kerala, inland waters in Mumbai and the deltaic regions of the Godavari-Krishna rivers.

Besides these organised operations by mechanised vessels, country boats of various capacities also operate in various rivers and canals. A substantial quantity of cargo and passengers are transported in this unorganised sector as well, according to information in IWT website.

Maritime domain central to India’s economic growth: DG Shipping The Blue Economy has emerged as a critical driver of infrastructure development, global competitiveness and sustainable growth under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047

 

India is steadily emerging as a global leader in the Blue Economy, supported by multiple initiatives focusing on ports, shipbuilding, logistics, renewable energy and allied maritime industries, Shyam Jagannathan, Director General of Shipping, has said.

Emphasising the growing importance of the maritime sector in India’s economic transformation, he said the Blue Economy has emerged as a critical driver of infrastructure development, global competitiveness and sustainable growth under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047.

pivotal role

Addressing Comarsem 2026 in Kochi on Friday, Jagannathan said India’s maritime domain plays a pivotal role in trade and logistics, with over 90 per cent of the country’s trade by volume moving through sea routes. With 1,520-plus merchant vessels and over 13 million gross tonnage capacity, the country is strengthening its presence in global shipping and maritime services.

The Government aims to position the country among the top 10 global shipbuilding and ship repair nations, scaling capacity from 30,000 GT to over 500,000 GT, while ensuring more than 60 per cent renewable energy usage at major ports.

Referring to the Maritime Amrit Kaal Vision 2047, Jagannathan said the advanced phase targets a top five global position in shipbuilding while maintaining global leadership in ship recycling. Key initiatives include development of carbon-neutral ports, promotion of green and alternative fuels, green bunkering infrastructure and incentives for low-emission vessels, supported by 300-plus strategic initiatives across 11 key maritime areas and 20–30 per cent financial assistance for green vessels, including retrofitting.

ship recycling

On ship recycling, he said India handles 30–35 per cent of global ship recycling tonnage, meets 20–25 per cent of domestic ferrous scrap demand and hosts 115 Hong Kong Convention-compliant yards at Alang–Sosiya in Gujarat, supporting the green steel ecosystem and large-scale employment.

He also highlighted major policy reforms, including the enactment of five landmark mercantile marine legislations in 2025 — the Bills of Lading Act, Carriage of Goods by Sea Act, Coastal Shipping Act, Merchant Shipping Act and Indian Ports Ac t— aimed at modernising regulation, improving ease of doing business and aligning India’s maritime framework with global standards.

Govt aims to make India 5th largest shipping nation by 2047: Minister Sonowal The Minister was virtually inaugurating the Cochin Marine Seminar (Comarsem 2026)

 

The Centre is working towards making India the fifth-largest shipping nation in terms of shipbuilding and ship ownership by Amrit Kaal 2047, said Sarbananda Sonowal, the Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways.

Shipbuilding, as a mother industry, has immense potential to generate large-scale employment while strengthening the national economy. At the same time, growth must be sustainable, with protection of the marine environment and safe living conditions for future generations, he said.

The Minister was virtually inaugurating the Cochin Marine Seminar (Comarsem 2026) organised by the Institute of Marine Engineers of India (IMEI) in collaboration with the Directorate General of Shipping.

creating ecosystem

Referring to recent government initiatives, Sonowal said policies such as the Shipbuilding Financial Assistance Policy 2.0, Ship Recycling Credit Policy, Maritime Development Fund, and incentives for brownfield and greenfield expansions are aimed at creating a robust ecosystem for the sector.

Shipping is a strategic sector in today’s highly unpredictable geopolitical environment. While these ambitions present challenges, they also open up significant opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and high-value business solutions. He highlighted the importance of platforms such as Comarsem in bringing together industry, policymakers, and investors to deliberate on critical issues, including the green transition in shipping.

Calling for collective action, the Minister urged stakeholders to work closely with the Government to realise India’s Amrit Kaal vision.

Themed “Maritime India — Innovations and Collaborations,” Comarsem 2026, which began here, brings together policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, academicians, and maritime professionals from India and abroad to deliberate on issues shaping the future of the maritime sector and India’s aspirations to emerge as a global maritime powerhouse.

GAIL, K LINE & J M Baxi collaborate to own equity in shipping firm GAIL has signed a long-term charter with the ship-owning company starting from 2027. The LNG vessel is currently under construction in a Korean Shipyard By BL New Delhi Bureau

 

GAIL (India) said on Wednesday that along with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE) and J M Baxi Marine Services, the state-run firm has signed a term sheet for equity participation in the ship-owning company established in Singapore.

The term sheet was signed in the presence of Oil Minister Hardeep Singh Puri at the India Energy Week in Goa.

GAIL has signed a long-term charter with the ship-owning company starting from 2027. The LNG vessel is currently under construction in a Korean Shipyard.

The gas utility’s investment in the ship-owning company, subject to approval of DIPAM, is planned through its wholly owned subsidiary company—GAIL Global IFSC, which is registered in GIFT City, Gujarat.

Sandeep Kumar Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director of GAIL, said, “Taking equity in a shipping company while also serving as a charterer is a strategic alignment of interests. With this equity investment, GAIL will be having ownership in two LNG ships in partnership with reputed Japanese Companies.”

Increasing ownership of ships by Indian companies is a move towards achieving Prime Minister’s vision of “Aatmanirbhar Bharat” in the shipping sector, he added.

Satoshi Kanamori, Senior Managing Corporate Officer at K LINE, said “This partnership brings together the complementary strengths of three trusted companies to build a resilient and sustainable LNG shipping platform for India. K LINE will continue to contribute our safety culture, technical expertise, and operational excellence to support reliable energy delivery and long‑term value for all stakeholders.”

Dhruv Kotak from the J M Baxi Group, said, “Our entry into clean energy transportation marks a defining step in J M Baxi Group’s long-term vision for the future of Indian maritime and logistics infrastructure. Partnering with GAIL and our long-standing collaborator, K LINE, reinforces our commitment to Aatmanirbhar Bharat.”

On the sidelines of the IEW, GAIL and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines on Tuesday entered into a long-term charter agreement for an LNG carrier, “GAIL BHUWAN”.

GAIL and MOL share a long-standing business partnership, and this collaboration further strengthens cooperation in LNG shipping and energy logistics.

Relying on MOL’s proven track record in providing reliable transportation services—including its high standards of safety and quality—and strong partnership, this contract has been signed between GAIL and LNG Japonica Shipping Corporation, a Joint Venture of GAIL (26 per cent) and MOL (74 per cent).

Both GAIL (India) Limited and MOL have set ambitious net-zero emission targets, and this agreement contributes to the realisation of a low- and decarbonised society.

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) shipping is fast becoming a cornerstone of India’s energy and maritime strategy, underpinning national goals for energy security, economic resilience, environmental sustainability, and industrial growth.

As India works to expand the share of natural gas in its energy mix and transition toward cleaner fuels, LNG shipping enables the nation to source reliable energy supplies from global markets and deliver them efficiently to Indian ports and consumers.

With its cleaner-burning profile, LNG supports India’s commitments to reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality while fuelling power generation, industrial processes, city-gas distribution networks, and heavy transport.

As India accelerates its journey toward a cleaner, more secure, and resilient energy future, LNG shipping will remain a cornerstone of national energy strategy.

Published on January 28, 2026

Kochi to host international maritime seminar on Jan 29-30

The event will feature focused panel discussions and technical paper presentations

The Institute of Marine Engineers (India), Cochin branch is organising Comarsem (Cochin Marine Seminar) here on January 29 and 30 in association with the Directorate General of Shipping.

The two-day event will bring together stakeholders from across the global maritime industry, including policymakers, industry leaders, technologists, academicians and maritime professionals creating a high-impact platform for dialogue, collaboration and knowledge exchange.

Themed “Maritime India — Innovations and Collaborations,” the seminar will focus on the transformation of India’s maritime sector and deliberate on strategic pathways to realize the country’s vision of becoming a global maritime superpower.

S.Krishnankutty, Chairman said Comarsem 2026 is envisioned as a global forum that brings together policy, technology and industry to collaboratively chart India’s maritime growth story in line with national and international aspirations.

Highlighting the importance of regulatory and policy alignment, Ajith Sukumaran, Chief Surveyor, Directorate General of Shipping said India’s maritime sector is undergoing a significant transformation driven by policy reforms, sustainability goals and technological advancements. Comarsem 2026 will provide an important platform for meaningful engagement between regulators, industry and global stakeholders to accelerate innovation and collaboration across the maritime ecosystem.”

The event will feature focused panel discussions and technical paper presentations on: policy frameworks and new legislations to accelerate Indian shipping and inland waterways; Infrastructure growth for shipping, shipbuilding and repair and ship recycling; adoption of greener technologies to meet de-carbonization targets; Innovative training methodologies for skills related to alternate fuels, digitalisation, autonomous systems and artificial intelligence; development of maritime clusters to address emerging challenges indigenously; Improvements in logistics and supply chain systems for sustainable growth.

Published on January 27, 2026

 

 

Karaikal Port berths MT Grace, Marks First Vessel Under Partnership with Tvarur Oils January 22, 2026 India Shipping News

 

KARAIKAL: Karaikal Port has achieved an important operational milestone with the successful berthing of MT Grace, a 6,000 MT vessel carrying Crude Palm Oil. This marks the first vessel to call at the port under its partnership with Tvarur Oils, underscoring a new chapter of collaboration and growth.

The seamless handling of the vessel highlights Karaikal Port’s strong operational capabilities and readiness to support liquid bulk cargo, particularly edible oil imports that are vital to domestic supply chains. The successful berthing further reinforces the port’s position as a reliable and efficient maritime gateway on India’s eastern coast.

Karaikal Port continues to focus on high standards of operational efficiency, safety, and sustainability while enabling smooth cargo movement for its trade partners. The commencement of operations with Tvarur Oils reflects the port’s commitment to building long-term partnerships and supporting the evolving needs of industry and commerce.

With robust infrastructure and a customer-centric approach, Karaikal Port remains well-positioned to facilitate regional trade growth and contribute meaningfully to India’s maritime and logistics ecosystem.