Air cargo to Iran doubles, US tariff may hit India hard

Hyderabad: India’s air cargo sector is facing fresh headwinds as US President Donald Trump’s proposal to impose a 25% tariff on countries trading with Iran threatens to disrupt emerging trade routes. The proposed tariff comes at a time when India’s air cargo movement to Iran surged sharply, registering nearly 200% growth over the past five years. In fact, India is among Iran’s top five trade partners in recent years.

Data from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) shows that air cargo shipments from India to Iran stood at 563 tonnes in 2023, but jumped to nearly 1,200 tonnes within the first nine months of 2025 (Jan–Sept).