Growing economic and strategic cooperation between India and the United States could create new freight opportunities across global supply chains, even as logistics operators continue to face disruptions linked to geopolitical tensions, port congestion and rising transportation costs.

According to Dimerco’s latest Asia Pacific Freight Report, strengthening trade ties between New Delhi and Washington are expected to support long-term cargo growth by encouraging greater investment, manufacturing diversification and expanded logistics connectivity. The company said India is increasingly being viewed as an alternative sourcing and production base as businesses seek to reduce dependence on China and diversify supply chains.

The report comes at a time when both countries are deepening discussions on trade cooperation, market access and supply chain resilience. Industry observers believe stronger bilateral engagement could lead to increased movement of goods across sectors including electronics, pharmaceuticals, engineering products, textiles and consumer goods.

Despite the longer-term growth outlook, India’s logistics sector is facing immediate operational challenges. Dimerco noted that airlines continue to reroute or operate cautiously around Middle East airspace, resulting in longer transit times and higher air freight costs on routes to Europe and North America. The situation has tightened capacity and added pressure to regional supply chains.

On the maritime side, congestion at Nhava Sheva Port remains a major concern for exporters and importers. The report highlighted prolonged gate delays, trailer shortages, export cargo rollovers and extended delivery timelines, all of which are affecting cargo movement and supply chain reliability.

Global shipping markets are also dealing with continued volatility driven by fuel price fluctuations, geopolitical uncertainty and operational disruptions. According to Dimerco, concerns over instability in the Gulf region have prompted some shippers to move cargo earlier than planned in an effort to avoid potential disruptions and rising transportation costs. This frontloading activity has tightened vessel utilisation and contributed to higher ocean freight rates.

Carriers are responding by adjusting bunker surcharges more frequently, with some shipping lines moving from quarterly to monthly revisions to reflect changing fuel costs. The report noted that these developments are making freight planning more difficult for shippers managing international supply chains.

Across Asia-Pacific, shipping capacity remains relatively stable overall, although congestion in India and parts of Southeast Asia is affecting schedule reliability ahead of the traditional peak shipping season. Delays at ports and transshipment hubs are also creating bottlenecks as cargo volumes shift across regional trade lanes.

Air freight markets are facing a separate set of pressures. Jet fuel shortages in some regions have forced airlines to reduce cargo payloads or deploy smaller aircraft, limiting available capacity. Demand from semiconductor, artificial intelligence and high-tech manufacturing sectors continues to support air cargo volumes, particularly on routes connecting Asia with the United States and Europe.

For logistics providers, freight forwarders and exporters, the evolving India–US trade relationship presents a significant long-term growth opportunity. However, near-term supply chain performance will remain closely tied to geopolitical developments, transportation capacity and the ability of logistics networks to manage ongoing disruptions across global trade corridors.

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