Sical Logistics Ltd - a Coffee Day Group company that runs port terminals and container freight stations - is likely to see bidding by JSW Group and Adani Group. Sical Logistics could be a perfect fit for Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd (APSEZ), India’s biggest private port operator and Sajjan Jindal-led JSW Infrastructure Ltd due to the logistic company’s presence in areas where they are also operating and looking to expand.

Spoton is now expanding beyond its bread-and-butter sector, and is contemplating a foray into third-party logistics (3PL), similar to Mahindra Logistics or Future Supply Chain, in six to eight months, potentially through an acquisition. An air express service was launched earlier this year. Spoton competes with deep-pocketed logistics startups such as Delhivery and Rivigo, apart from the likes of Gati, TCI, Safexpress, DHL, Bluedart and Fedex. Besides, the current slowdown in consumption could stall growth for the overall segment.

FM Logistic has reported financial results for the fiscal year ended 31 March 2019. The company reported revenues of €1,318 million in the year ending March 2019, up 11.8 per cent year-on-year, and earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) of €35.1 million, up 32 per cent from last fiscal year’s €26.5 million. Adjusted for currency effects, revenue growth was 15 per cent. The EBIT improvement was driven by measures taken by the company to increase its operational efficiency and be more selective in its commercial approach.

Rapid progression in e-commerce retail with augmented demand for fastest/same-day deliveries are bringing about paradigm shifts in the e-commerce retail supply chain functions. Logistics requirements for the e-commerce retail sector are getting reshaped by continuously evolving customer and business demands. To overcome these challenges the retail supply chains are adopting processes and innovations to meet the rising consumer expectations that benefit the e-trailer/retailer, the supply chain partner and the customer.

India has operationalised a partial guarantee scheme announced in the budget for non-banking and housing finance companies (NBFCs and HFCs), which will allow state-run banks (PSBs) to purchase their assets.It is aimed at providing liquidity support to avoid distress sale of assets in a sector facing a shortage of cash due to asset-liability mismatch.

Technology companies have expressed concern over a delay in introducing the Personal Data Protection Bill in Parliament, and a lack of clarity about its contents. Although a committee led by Justice B N Srikrishna, a former judge of the Supreme Court, submitted its report and the draft Bill to the government in July last year, it has yet to be sent to the Cabinet for approval.

The Ministry of Shipping, after the other National Waterway Projects, is now keen to start the inland waterways navigation and passenger transportation in the rivers of the North-Eastern states of the country. The project is said to bring easy movement in the region. Despite the cost efficiency and other benefits, the use of Indian inland waterways is only 0.1% while in the United States it is 21%.

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has agreed to relax priority sector lending norms for exports by removing the turnover condition of Rs 100 crore and enhancing the maximum sanctioned limit to Rs 40 crore from Rs 25 crore now. This boost for the credit-strapped export sector comes amid slow global trade growth. The central bank will also review the threshold for export credit, which is capped at 2% of the total credit forwarded by banks, known as adjusted net bank credit (ANBC), to further ease the flow of credit.

India is close to inking a key defense logistics sharing pact which will place it as a rare nation that has such a strategic agreement with both of the old cold war rivals - the US and Russia. India and Russia are finalising a defence agreement that will simplify interoperability and enable military platforms to receive support and supplies across bases in both nations.

Hyperlocal logistics space is set to see intense competition as Swiggy has been ramping up for a debut in the segment. According to three of Entrackr’s sources, the Naspers-backed company is launching Swiggy Go. This would be a service akin to dunzo – moving parcels from one point to another. Swiggy Go will be taking dunzo head-on with this new vertical. The multi-billion USD valued firm already impacting dunzo volume through Stores in Gurugram.

DHL Global Forwarding has opened a new logistics services facility in the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) near Chennai. The hub will offer value-added services including packaging, labeling, embossing, sorting, inspection, strapping, kitting and assembly of complete and semi knocked-down kits. Flexible storage options and a single window customs clearance also ensure a more streamlined and quicker processing of the stored cargo.

Knight Frank launched the latest edition of its flagship report, India Warehousing Market 2019 at the recently concluded 9th India Warehousing Show 2019 in Delhi. According to the independent global property consultancy's report, top warehousing markets in India witnessed a growth of 77 percent year-on-year in leasing in April 2018-March 2019.

Allcargo Logistics has sold its last vessel, thus exiting the shipowning and coastal shipping business. The company, which is headquartered in Mumbai, provides services including LCL consolidation, FCL Forwarding - exports and imports, air freight services, movement of over dimensional and project cargo, multi city consolidation - exports and imports and DDU/DDP/Ex works.

Amazon no longer needs FedEx. But that's actually not so bad for the shipping company, which is cutting ties with the e-commerce giant. In many ways, these two companies had long been using each other, all the while knowing that a breakup was inevitable. FedEx has opted to not renew its domestic FedEx Express partnership with Amazon, the companies become only rivals.

The truck rentals in India are seeing a sharp decline for over the past 6 months, according to a report of the Indian Foundation of Transport Research & Training (IFTRT). The freight rentals have gone down by 15%, averaging around 2 – 3 per cent per month from November 2018 to May 2019. The major reasons to be considered for this freight downfall are the plunge in the factory output and the increase in cargo capacity.

The demand for regulatory compliance, security and quality assurance has increased the demand for modern warehousing where organised players have an essential role. Technology adoption in warehousing is deemed as an imperative for efficient business processes. India has come a long way from basic godowns to smart distribution centres.

A fresh crop of companies is trying to change the huge but fragmented logistics market, employing technology to achieve efficiency, better volumes and lower costs. The startups, backed by large private equity firms, are improving the working conditions of truckers, who put in long hours behind the wheel with little respite.

Riding on structured reforms including the infrastructure status and the implementation of Goods & Services Act, Indian warehousing and logistics sector is estimated to attract nearly $10 billion investments over the next 4-5 years. With addition of around 200 million sq ft warehousing space across India, total supply is expected to nearly double by 2022, estimated JLL India.

The roar of passing trucks frequently drown out conversations at eateries lining NH 48 in Nelamangala, an hour northwest from Bengaluru city. A nondescript highway town of some 38,000 residents, this is a significant way station on the key highway connecting Bengaluru & Mumbai, as it heads out towards the commercial hubs en route, such as Tumakuru, Hubbali and beyond.

The government on Thursday relaxed the norms for e-way bills. Rules regarding validity have been changed, while a facility has been provided for auto-calculating the route distance. Under the goods and services tax (GST) regime, an e-way bill has to be generated if goods worth over Rs 50,000 are transported.

The rapidly growing e-commerce sector launched its own trade association under the name of The E-Commerce Council of India (TECI) on Wednesday. The founding members of TECI include Snapdeal, ShopClues, UrbanClap, Shop101, Flyrobe, and Fynd along with online brands like Mamaearth, Superbottoms, and Azah.

Gurgaon-based logistics startup Delhivery raised $395 million in its Series F round to become the first Indian unicorn of 2019. The company raised $350 million from SoftBank Group alone, while existing investors Carlyle Group and Chinese conglomerate, Fosun International also participated in the round.

Riding on structured reforms including the infrastructureNSE 0.96 % status and the implementation of Goods & Services Act, Indian warehousing and logistics sector is estimated to attract nearly $10 billion investments over the next 4-5 years. With addition of around 200 million sq ft warehousing space across India, total supply is expected to nearly double by 2022, estimated JLL India.

India has a total road network of 5.6 million km. National highways account for 2.3% of this with a total length of 131,326 km, state highways account for 144,961 km and other roads 5.3 million km. National highways cater to more than 40% of the road traffic.

According to market estimates, 30% of products sold on e-commerce platforms are returned. Reverse logistics, or managing the product return process, besides repackaging and refurbishing them, is disrupting the $160-billion Indian logistics industry.

“Especially in the tech analytics space,” says CEO, Pirojshaw Sarkari. Mahindra Logistics is currently in talks with two companies. Three months earlier, it invested in Transtech Logistics in a two-step transaction that will see it holding 51% in the startup.