India’s logistics sector put its scale and ambition on full display this week as Transport Logistic India and Air Cargo India 2026 drew more than 8,100 industry professionals to the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai over three days.
The event marked the 11th edition of Air Cargo India, widely seen as a key indicator of the country’s air freight industry. For the first time, it ran alongside Transport Logistic India, a platform designed to reflect the growing integration of freight movement across air, sea, rail and road networks. Together, the twin exhibitions hosted more than 230 exhibiting brands from 38 countries and featured a conference programme with over 120 speakers, bringing airlines, ports, freight forwarders, logistics park developers, technology firms and policymakers under one roof.
Shri Pratap Sarnaik, Honourable Minister of Transport, Government of Maharashtra, highlighted the state’s infrastructure push, noting that projects such as Vadhavan Port, the proposed third airport for Mumbai, and major connectivity corridors including the Samruddhi Motorway and Atal Setu are expected to improve logistics efficiency and reduce costs. He added that Maharashtra is also focusing on integrated logistics hubs to streamline operations and attract further investment while creating employment opportunities.
Former international cricketer AB de Villiers served as the face of Transport Logistic India 2026. Known globally for his adaptability and consistency, de Villiers was chosen to symbolise the performance-driven and globally competitive outlook the organisers associate with India’s expanding multimodal logistics ecosystem.
The exhibition floor brought together a wide range of established companies and emerging players across aviation, logistics and manufacturing. Participants included Air India Cargo, Amazon Air Cargo, APM Logistics, Atlantic Gate, BLR Logistics, Bosch, Cathay Cargo, CEVA Logistics, Chemnest Logistics, CJ Darcl Logistics, Cold Chain Technologies, DACHSER, DHL Logistics, Emirates SkyCargo, Etihad Cargo, FEI Cargo, Goodrich Maritime, IndiGo CarGo, Intangles, Maersk, Porter, Qatar Airways Cargo, Riyadh Cargo, SmartKargo, Transport Corporation of India (TCI), Turkish Cargo, Zeal Global and Aeroprime Group.
Shri Shyam Jagannathan, IAS, Director General of Shipping at the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and Additional Secretary to the Government of India, highlighted progress in reducing logistics costs. He noted that India’s logistics expenditure has fallen from nearly 13–14 per cent of GDP in 2016 to around 7.9 per cent today, reflecting sustained reforms and efforts to improve ease of doing business. He also emphasised the government’s push to utilise the country’s extensive coastline and inland waterways to encourage a shift towards more efficient transport modes.
Country and industry pavilions added further depth to the exhibition. The German Pavilion brought together companies with strong expertise in logistics technology and international trade. Meanwhile, the AITWA Pavilion, organised by the All India Transporters’ Welfare Association, focused on developments in India’s road freight sector and highlighted both innovation and structural challenges in surface transport.
Ashok Goyal, National President of AITWA, stressed the central role of road transport in connecting ports, airports, industrial clusters and consumption centres across the country. He said the association’s participation highlighted the need for integrated logistics planning across sectors. During the event, AITWA also announced plans to establish dedicated facilities for truck drivers across five zones, including medical support, safety training and welfare services. The initiative is expected to involve an investment of around ₹75 crore over the next three years.
A separate Future Tech Pavilion, powered by SmartKargo, focused on the digital transformation of logistics. Exhibitors showcased AI-driven cargo management systems, automation technologies, blockchain-based tracking platforms and advanced analytics solutions, drawing interest from both startups and established technology providers looking to expand in India’s growing freight market.
Addressing the role of technology in logistics, Shri Duddilla Sridhar Babu, Honourable Minister for IT, Electronics & Communications, Industry & Commerce, and Legislative Affairs in the Government of Telangana, described logistics as an increasingly technology-led growth engine. He noted that sectors such as pharmaceuticals and manufacturing require faster, more reliable and data-driven supply chains to ensure the safe movement of sensitive goods from Telangana to global markets. He also highlighted the state’s plans for a new logistics policy and a large logistics park aimed at strengthening tech-enabled cargo movement through Hyderabad.
Alongside the exhibition, two parallel conference tracks addressed key industry themes. The Transport Logistics India conference centred on the theme “Powering Vision 2030 with Logistics Performance Excellence”. Industry leaders from companies such as Tata Chemicals, Tata Projects and Reliance Industries discussed how improved logistics efficiency could support India’s manufacturing expansion and export ambitions.
The Air Cargo India conference, themed “Global Air Cargo – Booming but Bumpy”, focused on issues such as capacity constraints, network reliability and sustained demand from pharmaceuticals and e-commerce. Discussions reflected the sector’s current dynamics, where strong structural demand continues to coexist with operational challenges.
Bhupinder Singh, President – IMEA at Messe München and CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said the value of the event lies in bringing key decision-makers together. He noted that interactions between airlines, exporters, infrastructure developers, manufacturers and technology providers often lead to faster and more productive business outcomes.
As India continues to prioritise infrastructure expansion, digitalisation and export competitiveness, the combined platform of Air Cargo India and Transport Logistic India appears increasingly aligned with the country’s evolving logistics landscape. The 2026 edition closed with strong indications that the integrated format will continue, reflecting the way freight networks, and the broader economy, are becoming more interconnected.
Looking ahead, the platform’s global network will expand further in 2027 with Transport Logistic Africa & Air Cargo Africa scheduled from 2–4 February at the Sarit Expo Centre in Nairobi, Kenya. This will be followed by Transport Logistic India & Project Cargo 2027 on 25–26 February in Mumbai, extending the platform’s reach across emerging trade corridors in Africa and Asia while deepening its focus on multimodal and specialised cargo markets.
