Dimerco: India’s freight market strengthens amid festive season demand

India’s freight market is seeing a vibrant November, with both air and ocean cargo volumes rising as exporters push to meet festive season orders. According to Dimerco’s Asia Pacific Freight Report, demand across India’s logistics corridors is being shaped by seasonal exports, fluctuating fuel prices, and airlines’ efforts to balance limited capacity with growing cargo needs.

The surge in activity comes as shippers rush to move goods before year-end holidays, driving up utilisation and tightening space across key routes. Dimerco highlights that air freight demand remains particularly strong, with exporters moving high-value and time-sensitive cargo such as consumer electronics, garments, and manufacturing components. As festive orders peak, space constraints and rising rates have become common challenges, forcing exporters to plan shipments well in advance.

To ease this congestion, Indian and international airlines are adding capacity. IndiGo Airlines and several other carriers have launched new direct flights to China in November, which Dimerco says will improve routing efficiency and reduce transit times between the two major production markets. The improved air links are expected to help Indian exporters move goods faster during the high-demand period while supporting trade flows between India and East Asia.

However, the report also notes that air freight rates are fluctuating as airlines adjust to rapid changes in demand and fuel costs. Dimerco advises exporters to secure bookings early, particularly for urgent cargo, and to rely on premium carriers such as Emirates, Lufthansa, Qatar Airways, Singapore Airlines, and Cathay Pacific for more reliable transit options.

On the ocean side, India’s freight market is displaying stability despite mixed signals from other regions. Dimerco’s analysis shows that rates on major routes are either soft or steady, with carriers maintaining disciplined capacity management to prevent sharp price swings. The stable ocean schedules are giving exporters some breathing space after months of uncertainty caused by fluctuating global trade patterns and tariff developments.

Across the broader Asia Pacific network, India stands out as a resilient player. While markets such as Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand are facing congestion and delayed schedules due to tight capacity and new port fees, India’s combination of manufacturing strength and diversified exports is supporting steady cargo flow. The country continues to play a key role in balancing supply chains across Asia, especially as global shippers diversify sourcing away from traditional hubs.

Dimerco concludes that India’s freight outlook remains optimistic for the remainder of the year. With festive exports still driving momentum and new air connectivity enhancing efficiency, the coming weeks are likely to see sustained freight activity even as regional markets adjust to capacity shifts and tariff uncertainty.