CARGOCONNECT-JUNE2026 - Flipbook - Page 6
DI DYOU KN OW
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India Powers its Participation in
Global Value Chains
Road Transport Remains the
Preferred Choice Globally
India’s backward integration into global value chains
has improved, rising from 32% in 2015 to 46% in
2024, driven largely by increased use of imported
intermediates and EV components. This indicates
a signi昀椀cant shift towards increasing the domestic
assembly and processing of foreign components.
Roadways continue to dominate the global transportation sector in 2026, driven by their unmatched
昀氀exibility for door-to-door, passenger, and freight
transport. This growth is further accentuated by the
need for last-mile connectivity in e-commerce and
the 昀氀exibility to bypass disrupted maritime corridors.
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Apple to Invest ₹100 Cr to Green Its
Supply Chain in India
Saudi Arabia Earmarks US$8 bn to
Expand National Port Capacity
Apple Inc. has announced a `100 crore investment
in India’s renewable energy sector in partnership
with CleanMax. The initiative will add over 150
MW of clean energy capacity, supporting suppliers’
green transition and advancing Apple’s 2030 carbon
neutrality goals across its supply chain.
Saudi Arabia has invested over US$8 billion in expanding national port infrastructure under Vision 2030,
strengthening its position as a global logistics hub.
The investment aims to boost container capacity and
cargo handling at key gateways like Jeddah Islamic
Port amid rising regional shipping demand.
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Northern Railway Eyes AC Cargo
Trains for Kashmir Fruit Transport
3PLs Account for One-Third of
Warehouse Leasing
Northern Railway is exploring air-conditioned cargo
trains to transport Kashmir’s perishable fruits,
including apples and cherries to major domestic
markets. The initiative aims to modernise Jammu &
Kashmir’s horticulture supply chain through faster,
temperature-controlled rail transport.
India’s Grade A industrial and warehousing leasing
touched 11 million sq ft in Q1 2026, rising 22% YoY. 3PL
players remained the biggest demand driver during
the quarter, accounting for nearly one-third of the
total uptake. Leasing by 3PL 昀椀rms stood at about 3.5
million sq ft and was 1.8 times higher than Q1 2025.
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Centre Approves Key Manufacturing,
Road and Rail Projects
Indian MSMEs Scaling Up the
Digital Transformation Journey
As of May 2026, the Union Cabinet has approved
major infrastructure initiatives, including seven new
high-speed rail corridors worth `16 lakh crore, 22
projects valued at `41,863 crore across eight states to
strengthen domestic supply chains, and the `20,667
crore Sarkhej–Dholera semi-high-speed double-line
rail corridor.
India has more than 70 million MSMEs, contributing
approximately 31% to GDP and nearly 49% of exports.
However, with 97% of these businesses classi昀椀ed as
micro-enterprises, many are still at the early stages
of digital modernisation, presenting a signi昀椀cant
opportunity to leapfrog traditional development
pathways.
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India’s Maritime Sector Records
340% Rise in Women Workforce
Middle East Last-Mile Market to Hit
US$25.9 bn by 2031
Women’s participation in India’s maritime sector has
surged 340% since 2020, re昀氀ecting growing inclusivity
across ports, shipping, and logistics operations. The
rise is expected to strengthen workforce diversity and
support the development of a future-ready maritime
transport ecosystem in the region.
The Middle East last-mile delivery market is projected
to grow from US$14.6 billion in 2024 to US$25.9
billion by 2031, expanding at an 8.6% CAGR. Growth
is being driven by booming e-commerce, rapid
urbanisation, smartphone penetration, and rising
demand for faster, tech-enabled delivery services.
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