With India’s express logistics industry set to double in value by FY2029-30, its role extends beyond numbers and symbolises the nation’s ability to deliver to the world with speed, reliability and confidence, writes Vijay Kumar.
India stands on the cusp of a defining economic moment. The convergence of digital transformation, infrastructure modernisation and an ambitious export agenda is reshaping our position in global trade. With the world economy recalibrating supply chains and diversifying manufacturing bases, India’s time to lead has arrived. At the centre of this momentum lies the express logistics industry, an unsung enabler of trade, technology and trust, powering the movement of goods, ideas and opportunities across borders.
Over the past decade, India has combined demographic scale, digital innovation and infrastructure reform to position itself as a trusted trade partner. The government’s target of achieving $2 trillion in exports by 2030, supported by robust growth in manufacturing and e-commerce, underscores the country’s global ambition. This goal is not merely aspirational but attainable, driven by the synchrony of logistics efficiency, digital transparency and policy foresight. Express logistics sits at the intersection of all three, transforming the speed, reliability and inclusiveness of Indian exports.
Globally, the express logistics sector is valued at approximately $470 billion in 2025, expanding at nearly 6 per cent annually. Within this global framework, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets, with its express industry expanding from $3 billion in FY2016-17 to $9 billion in FY2024-25 at a compound annual growth rate of 15 per cent. The sector employs nearly 3 million people and contributes around $1.5 billion to GST revenues and $650 million in customs duties. By FY2029-30, the market is expected to grow to between $18-22 billion and create up to 7.5 million jobs, making it one of the most dynamic engines of India’s economic transformation.
India’s Global Engagements
The ongoing surge in cross-border e-commerce is redefining the way Indian enterprises engage with the world. Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), once constrained by distance and logistics costs,
are now competing on equal terms with global peers. Cross-border shipments reached 22.4 million in FY2024-25, growing at 27 per cent annually since FY2018-19, with exports accounting for 81 per cent of that volume.
For a textile manufacturer in Surat, delivering samples to Paris overnight is now routine.
For a leather craftsman in Kanpur, fulfilling a customised order to Dubai no longer requires an intermediary. Express logistics has democratised global trade, connecting small producers to international buyers with unprecedented ease, reliability and speed.
This connectivity has an outsized economic multiplier effect. Express logistics is not only creating millions of jobs but also catalysing regional development by linking rural and semi-urban clusters to global markets. It is driving growth in warehousing, packaging and technology-enabled last-mile delivery networks that support both formal and gig economy employment. The sector underpins India’s
$94 billion e-commerce market, which now sees 60 per cent of orders coming from
Tier 2 and -3 cities, a reflection of how deeply logistics and digital access are reshaping aspiration and opportunity.
Behind this expansion lies a powerful combination of physical and procedural innovation. The establishment of mechanisms such as E-Commerce Export Hubs and the Express Cargo Clearance System (ECCS) has revolutionised export logistics, replacing traditional paperwork with real-time, transparent processing. ECCS is now operational at nine major airports and is being expanded further to improve efficiency.
These facilities enable exporters to consolidate, process and dispatch shipments swiftly, dramatically reducing clearance times. Alongside, the development of Dedicated Freight Corridors and multimodal logistics parks is enhancing capacity and predictability across the country’s logistics grid.
India’s infrastructure evolution has been equally transformative. Over 85 new airports have been operationalised in the past decade, expanding connectivity between smaller cities and major export centres. The UDAN regional connectivity scheme has opened hundreds of new routes, bringing previously underserved regions into the national air network. These improvements, combined with advanced freight corridors and logistics parks, are positioning India as one of the most integrated and responsive logistics ecosystems globally.
Digital Integration
Technology and digitalisation have been the great equaliser in this transformation. Integration between ECCS and the Customs Integrated System has streamlined export procedures, making compliance faster and more transparent. Platforms such as the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) are enabling small enterprises to connect with global buyers, arrange logistics and manage documentation within a unified interface. By late 2024, ONDC had already handled more than 65 million e-commerce shipments, proving how digital platforms can transform export accessibility for MSMEs.
A new generation of logistics start-ups is also redefining efficiency through automation, artificial intelligence and real-time tracking. These technology-driven solutions have lowered the barriers for smaller enterprises, allowing them to operate with the same precision, reliability and visibility as established multinationals. Express logistics has thus become an ecosystem of innovation where technology and entrepreneurship converge to make trade faster, smarter and more inclusive.
As global supply chains undergo a major realignment, India’s strategic advantage has never been clearer. The world is looking for new, resilient trade partners amid geopolitical shifts and nearshoring trends. India’s stability, scale and credibility position it as a natural hub for diversified supply chains. Much like Dubai, Singapore or Istanbul, India can serve as a neutral express hub linking the east and the west. Policy support through Production Linked Incentive (PLI) schemes, liberalised foreign investment norms and a forward-looking foreign trade policy has further strengthened this opportunity.
Investment Momentum
To fully realise this potential, India must continue to invest in logistics innovation and sustainability. The next frontier for the sector lies in developing smart, carbon-efficient supply chains. Electric and hybrid delivery fleets, renewable-powered warehouses and AI-based route optimisation will
define the industry’s environmental footprint. As global buyers increasingly prioritise carbon-neutral sourcing, India’s express sector can emerge as a benchmark for sustainable logistics in the developing world. The creation of green corridors and the adoption of recyclable packaging materials are small
but significant steps in that direction. Sustainability is not just an ethical commitment; it is a competitive advantage in the age of responsible global trade.
The policy foundations are already in place. The National Logistics Policy, the PM GatiShakti Master Plan and the Foreign Trade Policy 2023 have created the framework for an integrated logistics ecosystem. What is needed now is targeted action to build capacity and capability. Expanding ECCS to all international airports will eliminate customs bottlenecks and speed up export cycles.
Incentivising private investment in E-Commerce Export Hubs, bonded logistics parks and last mile infrastructure will help the sector keep pace with growing trade volumes. Introducing express-specific incentives for MSME exporters in key categories such as textiles, leather, handicrafts and electronics can unlock new global competitiveness. A unified digital infrastructure that links DGFT, Customs, ECCS and carriers on a single platform will enhance transparency and reduce transaction costs across the value chain.
Express Path to Viksit Bharat
The express logistics sector is no longer a peripheral service. It is the connective tissue of India’s economic architecture, binding together manufacturing, exports and digital commerce. By FY2029-30, the industry
will likely double in value and support more than 7 million livelihoods. Its contribution extends beyond numbers; it represents India’s ability to deliver to the world with speed, reliability and confidence.
As India advances towards its vision of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) on the centenary of independence in 2047, express logistics will play a defining role in realising the nation’s global ambitions. It will connect small producers to international buyers, strengthen supply chain resilience and amplify the competitiveness of Indian manufacturing. The express sector stands not merely as an enabler of trade but as a driver of transformation.
India’s journey to becoming a global express hub will be a collective effort between policymakers, industry leaders and entrepreneurs. Together, they can ensure that logistics efficiency becomes the cornerstone of India’s growth story. With the express industry as its accelerator, the country is ready to lead a new era of cross-border confidence and global trade renaissance.
The next chapter of India’s growth will not be written only in factories or boardrooms but in the seamless movement of goods, services and innovation across borders. Express logistics is the invisible infrastructure of opportunity. It is the mechanism through which India’s economic ambitions take flight and its entrepreneurial energy finds expression on the world stage. If the past decade was about building capacity, the coming one will be about building global confidence. And that confidence will be carried, quite literally, by India’s express industry.’
About the author:
Vijay Kumar, CEO, Express Industry Council of India (EICI)
India’s Express Logistics Growth: From $3 Billion to $22 Billion
Industry grew from $3 billion (FY2016-17) to $9 billion (FY2024-25)
Projected to reach $18-22 billion by FY2029-30
3 million jobs today, expanding to 7.5 million jobs by 2030
Contributes $1.5 billion in GST revenues and $650 million in customs duties annually
Among the fastest-growing global markets in express logistics.
Source: EICI
Global Trade & MSME Empowerment: Democratising Exports
Cross-border shipments hit 22.4 million in FY2024-25, growing 27 per cent annually since 2018
81% of shipments are exports, connecting Indian producers worldwide
MSMEs now compete globally with overnight delivery to Paris, Dubai, etc.
$94 billion e-commerce market underpinned by express logistics
60% of e-commerce orders now come from Tier-2 & -3 cities
Source: EICI
Innovation & Sustainability in Logistics: Smart, Green, Integrated
ECCS operational at 9 airports, cutting clearance times dramatically
85+ new airports and UDAN routes expand connectivity nationwide
ONDC handled 65M shipments by late 2024, boosting MSME access
Next frontier includes EV fleets, renewable warehouses, AI route optimisation
National Logistics Policy, PM GatiShakti, and Foreign Trade Policy 2023 are enabling integration
Source: EICI