Unifeeder Launches India-Mediterranean (IMD) Service, Boosting India–Med Connectivity

In a significant boost to India–Mediterranean trade lanes, Unifeeder has launched its India Med Service (IMD)—a new shipping route connecting India with Northern Egypt and Türkiye. This move is part of Unifeeder’s ongoing effort to enhance its presence in the Indian Subcontinent and Mediterranean region.
“This strategic addition strengthens our ISC services by enhancing connectivity between India and the Mediterranean region,” Unifeeder stated.
The IMD service is designed to cater to both dry and reefer cargo, ensuring flexibility and efficiency for diverse cargo requirements.

Key Highlights:

Strategic Outlook

This expansion follows last year’s announcement of a strategic partnership between Unifeeder A/S and MPC Container Ships ASA, aimed at co-investing in energy efficiency technologies. The IMD service underscores Unifeeder’s dual focus on sustainability and regional connectivity.

Big Names Line Up for Tuna Tekra Port Project: Adani, Vedanta, Essar in the Race

India’s port infrastructure is heating up — and the latest battlefront is Tuna Tekra, Gujarat.
Top players like Adani Ports and SEZ Ltd, Vedanta Ltd, Essar Ports Ltd, and Gautam Freight Pvt Ltd have submitted initial bids for developing a multipurpose cargo berth at Tuna, Deendayal Port Authority’s key satellite facility.
This ₹1,552.57 crore (₹15.5 billion) project will boost India’s cargo handling capacity by 18.33 million tonnes annually, excluding containers and liquid cargo.
In a bid to secure the project, bidders are competing on the highest royalty per tonne of cargo handled, making this the port authority’s third attempt to attract private investment for this crucial berth.
Once completed, this modern terminal will accommodate large vessels of up to 100,000 DWT with 15m draft, handle diverse dry cargo — from food grains to steel — and ease the pressure on Deendayal Port’s already stretched dry cargo handling facilities.

Key Features & Project Highlights:

Infrastructure Commitments for Successful Bidder:

Dredging Responsibilities:

Additional Approvals:

Why This Matters:

Deendayal Port is the gateway for Northern India’s vast land-locked states, including Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat. This project is critical to reduce congestion and meet the growing demand for dry bulk handling.

India’s Services Sector Hits 3-Month High in May, But Manufacturing Loses Steam

India’s services sector saw its fastest growth in three months this May, thanks to robust export demand and record employment gains, keeping the economy’s expansion momentum alive.

Key Highlights:

The HSBC India Services PMI (seasonally adjusted) rose to 58.8 in May, up from 58.7 in April — well above the 50-mark, signaling sustained sector expansion.
Companies ramped up hiring at the fastest pace on record to meet rising demand and export orders.
Strong overseas demand remains a critical growth engine for India’s services industry.
Both input costs and output charges climbed above historical averages, hinting at inflationary pressures.
RBI expects 6.5% GDP growth this fiscal, supported by rural demand, public investments, and services exports.

Manufacturing Sector Shows Signs of Cooling:

Logistics & Freight Takeaway:

India Commits USD 20 Billion to Transform Maritime & Multimodal Logistics: Key Highlights from Nor-Shipping 2025

India has stepped up its game in the global maritime landscape, committing a whopping USD 20 billion to fast-track infrastructure development, multimodal logistics, and trade facilitation. Union Minister for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, made this landmark announcement during his keynote speech at the India@Nor-Shipping Country Session in Oslo.

Why This Matters:

India is not just upgrading its ports—it’s reshaping the future of maritime connectivity, sustainability, and global trade influence.

Top Highlights from the Minister’s Address:

Massive Investment Push:

Strengthening Global Maritime Corridors:

India’s Shipbuilding Ambition:

Green Maritime Future:

Digital Maritime Ecosystem:

Sustainable Ship Recycling:

Innovative Maritime Financing:

India’s Bold Vision:

“India’s maritime journey is not just about growth—it’s about creating a resilient, green, tech-enabled and globally competitive ecosystem. We are paving the way for India to become a maritime powerhouse, shaping the future of global shipping and trade,” — Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal

Why the Industry Should Watch This:

India’s Palm Oil Imports Surge 87% in May — Biggest Jump in Six Months!

India’s demand for palm oil roared back to life in May 2025, with imports skyrocketing 87% compared to April, hitting 600,000 metric tons — the highest monthly volume since November 2024.
The reason? Lower inventories at home and palm oil’s newly regained price edge over soy and sunflower oils,prompting Indian refiners to ramp up their buying sharply.
This surge could have ripple effects beyond India — possibly boosting Malaysian palm oil prices and supporting U.S. soy oil futures, say market watchers.

Why the Sudden Spike?

“Palm oil’s discount changed everything — buyers have switched back fast,” says Rajesh Patel of GGN Research.

Other Edible Oil Movements

Combined, these lifted India’s total edible oil imports by 37% to 1.18 million tons in May — the highest volume since December 2024.

Key Highlights at a Glance

India & Japan Chart New Course in Maritime Collaboration: Focus on Shipyards, Green Ports & Digitisation

In a landmark step to strengthen maritime ties, India and Japan have opened fresh chapters of cooperation spanning shipbuilding, port digitisation, and green port initiatives. The Union Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways, Mr. Sarbananda Sonowal, met with Mr. Terada Yoshimichi, Japan’s Vice Minister for International Affairs (MLITT), during the ongoing Oslo meet, aiming to unlock mutual opportunities in the fast-evolving maritime sector.

What’s on the table?

India has invited top Japanese shipbuilding giants like Imabari Shipbuilding, JMUC, Kanagawa Dockyard, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to explore investments and JVs with Indian yards—including potential greenfield projects such as Imabari’s planned presence in Andhra Pradesh.

Plans include joint efforts in port automation, digitisation, and smart logistics platforms, which will boost efficiency and transparency across the Indo-Japanese maritime corridor.
Both nations are exploring co-development of clean energy maritime clusters, including sustainable port infrastructure and disaster-resilient technologies to transform the Andaman & Nicobar and Lakshadweep Islands into Smart Islands.
Japan expressed keen interest in training and employing Indian seafarers, while India emphasised the importance of bilateral cooperation in maritime education and R&D.
The meeting also focused on setting up an MoU framework involving Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL), Indian universities, and public agencies to develop next-generation ship designs and sustainable marine technologies.

Why it matters:

“Japan’s global expertise in shipbuilding and repair, coupled with India’s fast-growing maritime sector, presents a win-win scenario for both nations. This collaboration will not only drive investments but also make our port infrastructure greener, smarter, and future-ready,” said Mr. Sonowal.

Meanwhile, Mr. Yoshimichi reaffirmed Japan’s interest in expanding its long-standing railway cooperation with India into the maritime space—laying the groundwork for a broader Indo-Japanese economic partnership.

Quick Highlights:

PSA Mumbai Phase 2: Now Fully Facility-Ready at JN Port!

Big news from India’s logistics landscape — Phase 2 of PSA Mumbai (BMCT) at Jawaharlal Nehru Port is now fully operational!

The gates are set, the wharf is complete, and the yard is ready to roll — significantly boosting the terminal’s capacity and service strength.

In a note of appreciation, PSA India credited this milestone to the dedication, teamwork, and collaboration of its teams and valued partners.

What this Expansion Means: Key Highlights

Why This Matters:

As the statement from PSA India proudly noted — this is not just an infrastructure upgrade, but a bold step toward shaping the future of Indian logistics and global commerce.

India-UK FTA to Boost Gem & Jewellery Exports from $400 Mn to $1 Bn: GJEPC

India’s gem and jewellery sector is set for a major boost as the India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) nears finalization. The deal aims to scrap 99% of tariffs on Indian goods, unlocking new growth potential in one of India’s key export markets.

According to the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC), exports to the UK are expected to grow from $400 million to $1 billion, with total exports likely to reach $2.5 billion within two years post-FTA.

Why This Matters:

Challenges to Watch:

Quick Snapshot:

Metric

Current

Post-FTA Target

India’s Jewellery Exports to UK

$400 Mn

$1 Bn

Total Gem & Jewellery Exports

$2.5 Bn (2 years)

Industry Takeaway:

A golden opportunity — but only for those prepared to meet the UK’s high standards. Indian exporters must blend creativity with compliance to unlock this market’s full potential.

India’s GDP Surges 7.4% in Q4 FY25, Beats RBI Forecast — Construction & Services Lead Growth

India’s economy ended FY25 on a strong note, with GDP growth outpacing expectations in the January–March quarter. According to the National Statistics Office (NSO), Q4 GDP clocked 7.4% growth, higher than the Reserve Bank of India’s (RBI) forecast of 7.2%.

For the full fiscal year 2024-25, GDP expanded 6.5%, just shy of RBI’s earlier estimate of 6.6%.

Key Highlights: At a Glance

Q4 GDP Performance:

Full-Year Growth:

Nominal GDP Expansion:

Top Performing Sectors:

Agriculture Rebounds:

Healthy Investment & Consumption::

Quarter-wise GDP Trend (FY25)

Quarter

GDP Growth (%)

Q1 FY25

6.70%

Q2 FY25

5.4% (7-quarter low)

Q3 FY25

6.2% (Rebound begins)

Q4 FY25

7.4% (Strong finish to the fiscal year)

Looking Ahead:

India’s Q1 FY26 GDP figures will be announced on August 29, 2025 — a key indicator of whether this growth momentum will continue into the new fiscal cycle.

VOC Port Gears Up for Mainline Container Ship Calls with Major Dredging Upgrade

In a strategic move set to reshape its container shipping operations, V.O. Chidambaranar (VOC) Port has completed the dredging and widening of its turning circle — a vital upgrade paving the way for mainline container ships of up to 14,000 TEUs to call directly.
The upgrade, executed by Belgium-based contractor Jan De Nul, involved expanding the turning circle from 488 metres to 550 metres, as part of a larger project to dredge the North Cargo Berth-III — managed by a JSW Infrastructure unit — to support fully loaded Panamax vessels.

Why This Matters:

By the Numbers:

Process Enhancements:

Past Challenges Overcome:

Previously, despite a 14.2-metre draft capability, ships had to lighten their loads before using a narrower turning circle, which impacted efficiency. The new 550-metre circle now eliminates this bottleneck, enabling fully loaded departures without extra manoeuvring.

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