India’s air cargo sector thrives in a world of tariffs

Mumbai | Kolkata: India’s air freight sector is riding a surge in premium shipments overseas, led by pharmaceuticals and smartphones, as exporters prioritise reliability and speed over costs in a world where unpredictable tariffs have spawned multiple trade barriers.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) data show international freight traffic rose 4.1%, domestic 5.9%, and total freight 4.8% between April and September in FY26, compared with the previous year. This comes at a time when the World Bank, in June, cut its 2025 global growth forecast to 2.3%, citing “heightened trade tensions and policy uncertainty.”