India’s freight market faces mixed signals across air, ocean shipping

India’s freight market is moving into September 2025 with resilience in manufacturing but facing mixed signals across air and ocean shipping, according to the latest Asia-Pacific Freight Market Report from Dimerco Express Group. India’s Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) rose to 59.1 in August, marking the strongest level in over a year and signalling continued expansion in factory activity. However, new tariff barriers and tightening capacity in ocean freight are expected to test exporters in the coming weeks. 

Air freight remains stable, but tariffs cast a shadow. In air freight, India is projected to maintain stable rates to the US West Coast (USWC) and East Coast (USEC). Dimerco notes that outcomes will depend heavily on the impact of the additional 25% reciprocal tariff recently imposed by the United States on Indian goods. Despite this development, capacity on Indian lanes is expected to remain steady for September, as per a report.

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