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India is preparing to operationalise its trade agreement with Oman from June 1, as New Delhi accelerates efforts to secure alternative trade corridors and strengthen supply chain resilience amid continuing geopolitical and energy market uncertainty. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said discussions with Omani officials have progressed positively, with both sides moving toward implementation of the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA).
The agreement, signed in December 2025, is expected to provide duty-free access for a large share of Indian exports to Oman, including engineering goods, textiles, food products and chemicals. In return, India will lower tariffs on several Omani exports, including petrochemical products and minerals.
Trade and logistics stakeholders view the pact as strategically important for India’s westbound cargo movement and regional connectivity ambitions. Oman’s geographic position along major maritime routes in the Arabian Sea and Gulf region gives Indian exporters an additional gateway into West Asia and parts of Africa. The agreement is also expected to support warehousing, port-led trade and multimodal logistics integration between the two countries.
Government officials indicated that the CEPA would cover more than 98% of Indian export tariff lines entering Oman, while India would gradually liberalise access across a significant portion of imports from Oman. Certain sectors, particularly petrochemicals, may see phased tariff reductions rather than immediate elimination.
The push to activate the Oman pact comes as India expands its broader trade strategy through multiple bilateral agreements aimed at reducing dependence on concentrated supply chains and improving market access for domestic manufacturers. Recent discussions involving trade arrangements with the UK, EU and other partners have reinforced New Delhi’s emphasis on export diversification and trade-led industrial growth.
Industry analysts expect the Oman agreement to particularly benefit Indian sectors linked to containerised exports, chemicals, automotive components, processed foods and MSME manufacturing clusters. Shipping and logistics companies are also likely to see increased cargo flows through western Indian ports as bilateral trade volumes rise under preferential tariff treatment.
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India is set to take a major step towards digitising cross-border trade and passenger movement with the launch of the Land Port Management System (LPMS) on June 9. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will formally unveil the platform in New Delhi, marking a significant upgrade in the management of the country's land border infrastructure. The LPMS has been developed as a unified digital platform to connect operations across India's land ports. The system is designed to enable end-to-end digital processing for both cargo and passenger movement, replacing manual procedures with integrated online workflows. According to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the platform will support functions such as slot booking, online payments, cargo tracking and single-window clearances. It will also facilitate real-time exchange of logistics and regulatory information among stakeholders involved in border trade and transport operations. The new system is expected to improve coordination between government agencies and private operators by providing a common digital interface. Authorities say the initiative aims to reduce processing delays, enhance transparency and improve the efficiency of cargo movement across land borders. LPMS has been integrated with key national logistics and customs platforms, including ICEGATE, the Unified Logistics Interface Platform (ULIP) and the motor vehicle ecosystem, allowing smoother data sharing and regulatory compliance. The launch comes as India continues efforts to modernise border infrastructure and strengthen trade facilitation through technology-led solutions. By introducing digital workflows at land ports, the government aims to bring border operations closer to the standards already established at major airports and seaports. Alongside the launch of LPMS, Shah will also inaugurate newly developed stakeholder accommodation facilities at the Dawki Land Port in Meghalaya and the Srimantapur Land Port in Tripura. The facilities are intended to support border personnel and other stakeholders operating at these locations. The Land Ports Authority of India (LPAI), which functions under the Ministry of Home Affairs, currently manages 15 operational land ports along India's borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar and Pakistan. The authority is responsible for developing and maintaining infrastructure that supports trade, travel and border management at these crossings. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
India’s seafood exports reached an all-time high in fiscal year 2025-26, supported by strong international demand and rising shipments of frozen shrimp, with Visakhapatnam Port emerging as the country’s leading export gateway for marine products. According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), India exported 19.72 lakh tonnes of seafood during the fiscal year, generating ₹73,890 crore ($8.46 billion). Export volumes increased by 16.13 per cent year-on-year, while export earnings rose 18.4 per cent in rupee terms and 13.44 per cent in dollar value. Visakhapatnam Port handled the largest share of the country’s seafood exports, processing 3.28 lakh tonnes of cargo valued at ₹20,217 crore. The port accounted for approximately 27.4 per cent of India’s total seafood export earnings, highlighting its growing role in the country's cold-chain and export logistics network. The port’s performance has been supported by Andhra Pradesh’s extensive aquaculture industry, particularly the production of vannamei shrimp, one of India’s most important seafood export products. The proximity of processing facilities, aquaculture farms and export infrastructure has strengthened Visakhapatnam’s position as a key gateway for marine exports. Jawaharlal Nehru Port ranked second, handling more than 3.1 lakh tonnes of seafood exports worth ₹8,717 crore. Kochi Port secured third place with over 1.79 lakh tonnes valued at ₹7,285 crore, followed by Kolkata Port with 1.07 lakh tonnes worth ₹5,913 crore. Chennai Port handled 1.10 lakh tonnes of seafood exports valued at ₹5,411 crore, while other ports collectively processed 9.2 lakh tonnes worth ₹26,344 crore. Frozen shrimp remained the dominant export commodity, contributing ₹49,038 crore ($5.62 billion) and accounting for more than two-thirds of India’s seafood export earnings. The country exported 7.93 lakh tonnes of frozen shrimp during the fiscal year, with the segment recording growth in both volume and value. The United States retained its position as the largest importer of Indian frozen shrimp, purchasing 2.56 lakh tonnes. China followed with imports of 1.70 lakh tonnes, while the European Union imported 1.36 lakh tonnes. Other major markets included Southeast Asia, Japan and the Middle East. From a supply chain perspective, the record export performance underscores the increasing importance of integrated cold-chain infrastructure, reefer container availability and efficient port operations in supporting India's seafood trade. As demand from major global markets continues to grow, logistics efficiency will remain a critical factor in maintaining the competitiveness of Indian marine exports. Industry officials also reported growth in exports of vannamei and Black Tiger shrimp, reinforcing the importance of aquaculture-driven supply chains in sustaining the sector’s expansion and export earnings. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates.
UPS is investing nearly $50 million to expand its logistics capabilities for automotive and industrial manufacturers, signalling a deeper shift toward higher-value business-to-business freight services as global supply chains become increasingly time-sensitive and complex. The investment includes an expansion of the company’s North American Air Freight (NAAF) network, with new time-definite heavy air cargo services connecting Mexico, the United States and Canada. Beginning in August, shippers will have access to one-day, two-day and three-day freight options designed to move production-critical components across North America with tighter delivery windows and improved shipment visibility. The move comes as manufacturers face growing pressure to maintain lean inventories while managing supply chain disruptions, shifting trade flows and evolving production strategies. Automotive companies in particular are increasingly reliant on expedited transportation networks to prevent assembly-line interruptions caused by delayed parts shipments. UPS said the expanded service will also strengthen cross-border freight operations with Mexico, one of North America’s most important manufacturing hubs. The company is adding ground transportation capacity alongside its air freight expansion to support integrated cargo movement throughout the region. By combining transportation, customs brokerage and warehousing services within a single network, UPS aims to reduce operational handoffs that can create delays in international supply chains. The investment reflects a broader strategic realignment within the parcel and logistics sector, where carriers are increasingly prioritising industrial, healthcare and specialised freight customers over lower-margin residential e-commerce deliveries. UPS has been actively reshaping its business mix as it reduces dependence on high-volume consumer shipments and seeks stronger revenue growth from sectors requiring premium logistics services. Company executives said the initiative includes the creation of a dedicated team of more than 300 specialists focused on automotive and industrial supply chains. The group is expected to work directly with manufacturers on freight planning, network optimisation and operational resilience strategies. Beyond transportation expansion, UPS is also increasing investments in visibility and automation technologies across its logistics network. The company has been deploying RFID-enabled tracking systems and automated freight handling capabilities aimed at improving shipment accuracy, reducing manual processing and strengthening real-time cargo monitoring. Industry analysts view the investment as part of a wider trend among logistics providers seeking to capture greater share of manufacturing-related freight. As nearshoring activity continues to drive production growth in Mexico and cross-border trade volumes rise, demand for integrated transportation solutions has become a critical competitive factor for both manufacturers and logistics operators. The automotive sector remains particularly dependent on reliable freight networks because production schedules often rely on just-in-time inventory models. Even minor transportation disruptions can trigger costly shutdowns across assembly operations, making speed, predictability and cargo visibility increasingly important service differentiators. UPS’s latest investment underscores how major logistics companies are repositioning their networks around industrial supply chains, where demand for specialised transportation, cross-border coordination and end-to-end visibility continues to grow. As manufacturers diversify sourcing strategies and expand regional production footprints, logistics providers are expected to face increasing pressure to offer integrated freight solutions capable of supporting more complex supply chain networks. Follow CARGOCONNECT for more such updates
