India’s Logistics After 75 years of Independence

India has over 14,000 km of navigable waterways. All the stakeholders stand to gain if certain fundamental challenges of the inland waterways are addressed by the government. For starters, all states need to have a standard rule book for the movement of goods through inland waterways.

Ukrainian grain exports have been essential for global food security. Even as the Russia-Ukraine war lingers, the UN is making sure food supplies from Ukraine make their way to international markets. Japan’s investment in Ukraine’s agricultural and supply chain sector is a welcome move.

India’s coal and crude oil imports are rising at a time when prices for both these commodities are on the rise. A falling Rupee, and the widening gap between imports and exports is increasing the current account deficit. As per the government of India, export of certain goods are down due to adverse geo-political developments. Following the watch and wait approach, the Reserve Bank of India may let the Rupee slide further against major currencies.

SMEs play a key role in the global economy. They create two-thirds of all jobs and contribute more than 50 percent of the GDP in OECD countries. As environmental, social and governance (ESG) reporting becomes mainstream, SMEs must configure their operations to comply with local and international laws.

As sustainability and conservation become ethical concerns, companies must keep in mind the social and environmental implications of their sourcing and supply chain strategies. Sustainable sourcing is essential to all industries.

After the ban on wheat in May, India now restricts flour exports and other derivatives. The central government (Centre) has now put restrictions on wheat exports and other related products like maida, semolina (rava), whole meal atta and resultant atta. According to a notification from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), the decision will come into effect on, 12 July 2022.

Over the past two and a half Covid-stricken pandemic years, the world has been disrupted by port congestions and the shipping crisis. This has crippled numerous industries and company operations. Read on to know more about how this crisis shifted trade flows from the US west coast and east coast, where American ports require up to $168 billion of investment and are facing Chinese logistics woes.

In the wake of the US surmounting China as India’s top trade partner in 2021 - 22, it is pertinent to take a look at South Asia’s biggest economy’s top 10 trade partners. Interestingly, barring the top trade partner, the US, India has a trade deficit with the rest of the nine partners, amounting to a colossal $154.7 billion. Only the top two partners, the US and China have bilateral trade above $100 billion whereas the bottom three, Indonesia, South Korea and Australia roughly have the same quantum of around $25 billion. Read on to know more about how crucial is the Gulf geography for India’s economy et al.

Around the time India inked the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF) pact as a founding member with the US, the world’s largest economy surpassed China as India’s top trade partner for the fiscal year 2021 – 22. Keep reading to know more about how the trade synergies match between two prolific economies and the way IPEF dovetails into this framework.

International Logistics plays a vital role in the Chemical Industry. As the growth of the Chemical Industry skyrockets, so does the logistics aspect of it. Click here to learn more about its role in the Indian Chemicals Industry.

Ocean carrier powerhouses CMA CGM, Maersk, MSC, and others-- awash with cash from the past few years--are looking from the high seas up to the sky. They are keen to grab some of the air freight pie as a decent chunk of sea freight is buoying upwards, with shipping line – airline partnerships. Such players include CMA CGM – Air France – KLM, Maersk Air Cargo and MSC’s courting of Lufthansa.

CEPA between India & UAE came into effect on May 1. It aims to increase bilateral trade between both nations to $100 billion by 2030.

UPDATE: India put wheat export under the "prohibited" category post a sudden spike in the price of the commodity. Exports will be allowed on basis of permission granted to other countries to meet their food security needs and based on the request of their government. Read more on export opportunity from India

Incoterms are widely discussed terms in the logistics world. They are shipping agreements which define the trade process for the importers and exporters. Let us look at how FOB makes shipments hassle-free, economical, and easy for Importers?

As March transitioned into April, the shipping world learnt through Sea Intelligence that global shipping lines raked in an astounding operating profit of over $110 billion in 2021 while MOL started promoting ships parts recycling from Turkey and a consortium of three ocean carriers launching services to Chennai & Vizag. Meanwhile, the Indian government shared a list of 26 national waterways viable for cargo and passenger movement. Read on to know more.

Global Trade is becoming more difficult due to trade knowledge and the execution gap widening. A financing gap of USD 3.4 trillion was also recorded in the wake of COVID-19. Governments all around the world are noticing all this and centralising the logistics process has become a hot topic. While it is clear by many stances, that shipping lines are benefiting from their dominance in the market, the change government aims to bring is also gradual. Read more about it here.

The first week of March in the world of shipping started off with MOL completing 100 percent acquisition of Utoc Corporation, Oracle introducing new logistics management capabilities and DB Schenker & CMA CGM teaming up to offer regular emission-free ocean freight. However, the Russia – Ukraine war has emerged as a major dampener for global trade, raising shipping costs and disrupting manufacturing.

Industry standards compliant export packaging is a crucial part of international trade. The job of a shipper or exporter doesn’t end with just manufacturing world-class products but also adhering to country-specific and international standards while wrapping his wares for onward shipment through a vessel, aircraft, or a truck for the ultimate buyers. Failing to do so can lead to heavy fines and massive delays, coupled with disrepute. Read on to know the key role of export packaging in international trade.

February ended with PIL launching a new service connecting China and Australia, Hapag – Lloyd unveiling China Germany express service, MOL and partners setting a world record on autonomous navigation and Maersk launching an intermodal freight service linking the Far East to Europe. Closer home, India expects to see 80 percent exports to UAE to be duty free post FTA. Read on to know more.

Operating a bunkering vessel on biodiesel, enabling VGM input on mobile app and widespread availability of end-to-end DP World visibility platform CARGOES FLOW have enlivened the shipping world in the beginning of February’s second half. Other noteworthy developments include MSC emerging as the top feedering provider, CMA CGM vowing to stop carrying plastic waste and first paperless trade finance transaction through TradeLens. Read more

February second week saw ONE adding a new service linking North China and Straits to ZIM enhancing Latin America services, OSRA being introduced in the American Senate, MOL signing a slew of agreements, the Indian government assuring to raise tonnage under its flag and the new SEZ law to be WTO compliant. Read more

The first week of February in the shipping world was eventful with features such as Maersk expanding footprint in Bangladesh, long term contracted ocean freight rates declining marginally, a slew of developments from CMA CGM, findings of schedule reliability dropping to a record low in December and Hapag – Lloyd registering $12.8 EBITDA among others.

The 2022-2023 Union Budget introduces a slew of measures to further the vision of ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ and pushes economic growth in the lead up to India’s 100 years of independence. Our Finance Minister emphasized the importance of the PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan in building multimodal connectivity and improving logistics efficiency. Read more.

The shipping and maritime industry has witnessed many heartening developments in the form of deployed vessels capacity remaining impressively high during the four-week period starting from the Chinese New Year, fleet anti-grounding alert software system innovation from a Japanese shipping line, OOCL doubling Q4, 2022 revenues, and French CMA CGM subsidiary Ceva Logistics finding a place in the world of high octane Formula 1 racing through the Italian prancing horse, Ferrari. Read weekly trade updates to know more.

As key players in the South Asia and Southeast Asia geographies, India and Thailand have deep rooted historical, cultural and trade ties. Leveraging its links with Thailand, India can find better access to trade with the $2.3 trillion ASEAN Economic Community market. Read on to know more about the trade potential between the two countries and beyond.

Get the latest updates on key trade, shipping and maritime developments from across the world which occurred in the past one week

Authorities in the port city of Tianjin have put up a tiered lockdown. The Port of Tianjin and the airport have suspended pickup operations for all import containers. Truck deliveries from Tianjin to Beijing are restricted. The airport in Xi’an remains closed. The movement of rail and road freight remains restricted. Freight transportation companies and shippers fear labor shortages due to COVID outbreaks. Trucking operations at the Port of Ningbo slowed. Read more on the latest updates from China

The world continues to reel under the Coronavirus pandemic and its multiple waves shaking one country after the other, manifested by the new Omicron variant now. As in most industries, the pandemic has its pronounced impact on the shipping industry as well, especially leading to congestion at Chinese ports, which is also aggravated by other causes. Read on to know the many reasons causing Chinese ports congestion, including if Hong Kong can play a bigger role in logistics.

The global shipping industry, which is crucial for the normal functioning of trade and commerce and the wider world took its baby steps towards digitalisation only recently, falling behind several other age old industries such as banking, travel, telecom and others. Read on to know how a few shipping pioneers are blazing the trail of digitalisation to modernise the landscape for seamless operations.

‘Olympic Trade Effect’: Countries bidding to host the Olympics send a signal that they are ready to open up trade. Leading economists believe that there was strong evidence of the Olympics having a large positive effect, north of 30 percent, on exports of hosting nations. This points towards that the China Winter Olympics 2022 will boost export and import from the nation.

Find out why Trade Finance is inaccessible to small players and the innovative solutions that are available today. Recent estimates indicate that the trade finance gap has gone up from $1.5 trillion to $3.4 trillion and is a significant barrier to trade.

Tracking shipments is a very important aspect of international trade which continues to give jitters to all, especially small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Current progress made on container tracking is not sufficient to meet the requirements of importers and exporters.

Learn how Cogoport, an Indian technology startup, can make life easy for traders and SMEs in their international trade journey by offering ocean shipment visibility platform with best-in-class attributes and features.

The trade knowledge and execution gap in international trade are growing rapidly. UN has consistently estimated that missed opportunities in international trade have cost the world nearly $1.5 trillion dollars annually. More recent estimates indicate that this number has grown to $3.5 trillion dollars.

Find out about the types of AWBs, their uses, how you can get one issued, and how you can use it to track your air cargo consignment.

Engineering goods remain India’s most exported commodity in 2021 so far while pharma exports have posted a strong showing in the face of the Covid-19 crisis.

Obtain insights on how Indian commodities exports are expected to perform in the next year, at a time when container scarcity and skyrocketing freight costs are hurting exporters. Likewise, learn what impetus the government is offering.

We congratulate Maersk today for such a strong earnings announcement. This is clearly history in the making. Understand the effects that this kind of a success has on the wider industry dynamics.

This guide will help you understand how to import goods from China to India using ocean freight, how much it costs, duties to account for, the time it takes, regulatory norms, important ports, and more.

Understand how to import from China to India by air, all the procedures and documentation required, how much it will cost you, how long it will take, and alternative modes of transport.

The Legal Metrology Registration Certificate, also called LMPC certificate, is mandatory for Indian importers of pre-packaged goods. Failure to register can lead to the goods being seized by customs. Read this guide to get an LMPC certificate and import smoothly.

To secure their payments in China and to avoid risks, importers must pick the right method of payment. Use this guide to see which mode is right for you.

Supplier verification and due diligence are absolutely necessary if you’re thinking of importing from China. Follow these simple steps to keep trouble away.

For importers, buying goods from China comes with benefits as well as the risk of fraud – whether it’s ending up with substandard goods or losing money to fake companies. Don’t be a victim of a scam. Follow these best practices

GST is an active indirect tax that replaces all other indirect taxes across India. Read about how GST impacts imports in India and how to calculate GST on your imports.

Minimum order quantity ensures that suppliers make a profit on sales while buyers get the right products for the right price. However, buyers can still negotiate a lower MOQ in China. We’ll tell you how.

Quality control and inspection is crucial if you are sourcing products or manufacturing your goods in China. The article explains what it entails, why it is important, and how to go about getting it done.

A high tariff wall, frequent duty rate changes, and a protectionist foreign trade policy are among the biggest hurdles standing in the way of Indian importers.

Tracking your cargo as it moves from its origin to its final destination is a critical aspect of supply chain management. The article discusses the different ways by which you can track your cargo being transported by ocean and air.

From under-developed infrastructure and complicated procedures to limited access to finance, multiple factors are preventing Indian exporters from reaching their full potential and making them less competitive in the global market.

China is the world’s factory, sending goods in all directions via sea. But recently, frequent maritime accidents have resulted in huge cargo losses, making shipping from the country a risky affair. The need for marine cargo insurance for your China shipments has never been more urgent than now.

From customs duties to IGST, know all there is to know about the costs associated with importing goods into India, how to calculate them, and where to pay.

One of the obvious challenges of trading with China or Chinese suppliers is overcoming the language barrier. Read on for tips on making your communication with them more effective.

For traders who source goods from Asian countries that have their own languages and cultures, a local freight forwarder brings many advantages. Follow these tips to make the right hire for your business needs.

The major ports in China are the key axes of global trade. Take a look at some of the top Chinese sea ports, from Hongkong to Ningbo and beyond, to understand their contribution to world trade and to determine which ones suit your business needs.

Managing cashflow in the export business is a huge challenge. Follow this guide to make your transactions less of a risk & more of an opportunity.

Steel Prices in India have doubled in the last year, causing a storm of trouble for small-scale steelmakers

Read about the top 12 cargo handling airports in China, along with key details and information relevant to businesses that trade with China.

Get all the news and relevant updates on cargo volumes and booking availability, near-term forecasts of freight rates, and freight rate trends for in our Ocean & Air Freight Outlook 8 June, 2021 edition.

Know about eBRC, the process to check and print the certificate on DGFT. Also learn about the roles & responsibilities of the Bank, exporter & DGFT. And what to do in case of an error.

Know about the Switch Bill of Lading, its role in shipping, best practices along with the features, concerns and risks.

Know about Foreign Trade Agreements, its importance, benefits and how to claim FTA benefits. Also learn about what India is doing to strengthen its FTAs.

Learn about the strengths, challenges & untapped potential of India’s agricultural export sector. Also discover the top 10 agricultural export commodities and the predictions for 2021

Know about the shipping challenges that the world is facing in 2021. From Covid 19 to the Suez canal blockage to the resulting port congestion, container shortages, blank sailings and soaring freight rates.

Know about Export Promotion Councils in India, its roles, functions, benefits, types, current trends and how to register with them.

Know about the compliances, Custom documents, duties and labelling for imports from China to India

Know about the Harmonised System Code (HS Code), how to find the correct code for the product along with their importance, correct uses & the consequences of incorrect usage

Know about RoDTEP scheme, its purpose, features, benefits & differences with MEIS and RoSCTL. Eligibility and How to avail the benefits & the current teething issues.

Read to know about the Global container crisis. How did it Start and its impact on India. What measures have been taken to curtail the crisis.

Know about the impact of India-China Conflicts, trade Statistics and the government Measures to withdraw dependence on Chinese products. 

Learn how to ensure your foreign buyer pays you in full & on time. Along with the pros & cons of the most common international payment terms. And what to do if the buyer refuses to pay.

Everything you need to know about the export of goods with payment of IGST, how to claim a refund, and common problems you might face during the refund process

Everything you need to know about the export of goods without payment of IGST, under bond/LUT, how to claim refund of input tax credit, and recent changes in the GST law

Know about General average & when is it declared. How does general average affects you as a cargo owner, importer & exporter? Conditions for cargo release & how to stay protected.

Know about the types & benefits of export incentives in India. Understand who implements these schemes, how they work and why they are important.

Know about India's Foreign Trade Policy. The Highs & Lows of FTP 2015-2020. What are the expectations from FTP 2021-2026? Is the new FTP India's road to $5 Trillion by 2025?

Read key cyber-security frauds affecting exporters-importers. Why SMEs should be alert? How SMEs can protect themselves when under attack? Useful tips to stay safe.

Get latest updates on what a container rollover crisis is. The reasons for the fallout and impact of cargo rollover. Know how you can prevent it and what to do when cargo is rolled.

Find out the details about the expectations and reality of the budget 2021. Know how it affects MSMEs and what they can do to survive.

Find out what CBM is and how to calculate CBM for your cargo. Learn to calculate CBM for Ocean Freight, Air Freight and road (truck LTL) freight. Calculate CBMs per pallet.

Find out all the factors impacting custom clearance, rules and policies you need to be aware about and steps involved in custom clearance.

Get full details about what a supply chain is, and how is it important. Know how covid-19 has impacted supply chain and what can you do to manage and adapt.

Know in detail what an AD code is. Why does an exporter need an AD code? How to apply for an AD code and how to register for customs. Find out how to modify it.

Know about the abandoned goods and why are the cargo abandoned. What happens with abandoned goods and who is liable. How to avoid being stuck and what to do when stuck with abandoned goods. 

Find out about the current shipping disruption resulting in delayed shipment and container shortage. Also how can you deal with this peak season rush due to Covid-19.

What is Brexit, no-deal Brexit and the impact of Brexit on trade? How Brexit will impact the logistics sector and India. Know how to be Brexit ready.

Know about the RCEP trade deal, its expectations & limitations. The pros & cons of India's decision to opt-out of the trade deal. And how does this decision impact the Indian exporters & importers.

Learn about brand awareness & its benefits for export import business. How to build an international brand using social media strategies & attract foreign buyers.

Find the sample email templates for import-export business. How to make a product pitch, send a business proposal or quote, update the client on an ongoing transaction, deal with queries, troubleshoot, negotiations etc

A complete & step by step guide to the shipment planning and documentation process. The documents required for shipment planning and optimise the shipment process.

Know why shipping delays happen and how it's bad for business. What plagues the shipping industry today? And how early is enough to book a shipment. Plan well.

Know about what is demurrage and detention and who charges them, how does it affect you, how to calculate the charges and what you can do to avoid them.

Know about the best 35 digital resources needed to do an import/export business successfully. Learn where to look for buyers, trade finance to preparing & filing trade documentation and get ready.

A detailed guide on how to import with an example of a Full Container Load (FCL) import process.

Know all the incidental charges or extra costs in shipping. Find about these transport and insurance related extra ocean freights costs that can catch you off-guard.

Know all the incidental charges or extra costs in shipping. Find about these freight and customs related extra ocean freights costs that can catch you off-guard.

This article covers the great export challenge: How to find international buyers. Learn how to find trustworthy foreign buyers for your export products and how to explore new markets across the world for your export business.

Post-shipment credit is a collateral-free finance option for exporters to manage their cash flow needs as they wait to be paid. Read this guide to know about the different types of post-shipment credit available to exporters, where exporters can avail of them, and how it will help their business

Get detailed information about the role of a Container Freight Station (CFS) in shipping. Know it's meaning, functions, and charges.

Complete guide to the types of dangerous goods and shipping them safely, including the precautions to follow and documentation required.