Integrated logistics drive EXIM gains for Balmer Lawrie

What steps is Balmer Lawrie taking to grow in freight forwarding and CFS, and how will it leverage its strengths to expand in maritime logistics over the next 3–5 years?

Balmer Lawrie has long been recognized for its resilience, adaptability, and foresight—qualities that define its 158-year legacy. As a diversified conglomerate, the company has consistently navigated challenges and emerged stronger.

Logistics remains a core focus, where Balmer Lawrie stands out as a leading Indian player offering end-to-end services backed by advanced infrastructure. Its capabilities span international freight forwarding, Container Freight Stations (CFS), temperature-controlled warehouses, and a fleet of temperature-controlled vehicles. In a dynamic logistics landscape, the company is expanding its freight forwarding and CFS operations through strategic capacity building and digital transformation. Its global freight forwarding strength lies in a robust international agency network that ensures seamless cargo movement for Indian exporters and importers.

Within the CFS segment, Balmer Lawrie continues to upgrade facilities to boost handling capacity, streamline customs clearance, and offer integrated services such as bonded warehousing, reefer management, and last-mile delivery. Its cross-sector expertise in travel, manufacturing, and logistics enables it to deliver bundled, value-added solutions to corporate clients. By leveraging synergies across its business verticals and aligning with national initiatives like PM Gati Shakti and the National Logistics Policy, Balmer Lawrie is focused on digital innovation, integrated logistics, sustainability, and strategic partnerships. Over the next 3–5 years, it aims to evolve into a comprehensive logistics ecosystem provider.

What’s driving Balmer Lawrie’s growth and profitability amid global uncertainty and logistics disruptions?

Balmer Lawrie reported a turnover of ₹2,578 crore and a profit after tax of ₹233 crore in FY 2024–25, reflecting a 7.2 per cent revenue growth and a 14.4 per cent rise in profitability. Logistics, Travel, and Greases & Lubricants emerged as the most profitable segments, while Industrial Packaging and Travel achieved record volumes. Logistics Services, Vacations, and Chemicals also posted strong top- and bottom-line growth.

Despite global headwinds—geopolitical tensions, inflation, and supply chain disruptions—the company maintained steady performance, driven by: customer-centric approach, cost optimisation, product diversification, strategic capacity utilisation, skilled workforce investment, and strong balance sheet. The Travel business, particularly the government air ticketing portal, significantly boosted volumes, showcasing the impact of focused execution and collaboration.

How does Balmer Lawrie’s partnership with GATX India enhance its multimodal logistics capabilities, and what’s the latest on the Visakhapatnam Multi-Modal Logistics Hub and related infrastructure supporting cargo and shipping lines?

We’ve hit a major milestone in expanding our multimodal logistics with our entry into Rail logistics, and to cater to our rail needs we have entered into a new strategic agreement with GATX India. This partnership lets us integrate rail into our logistics chain, which means faster turnaround times and more environmentally friendly, cost-efficient transport solutions for our clients. It also aligns perfectly with India’s vision for green logistics.

Our Multi-Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) at Visakhapatnam is making steady progress. This park is designed to seamlessly integrate road, rail and sea transport, creating a vital hub. It will not only support port operations but also serve the cargo needs of Eastern and Central India, unlocking immense value for exporters and logistics partners. We’re planning this infrastructure to sync with the Government’s Bharatmala and Sagarmala initiatives, ensuring synergy with their broader infrastructure roadmap.

How is Balmer Lawrie collaborating with ports, shipping lines, and tech partners to boost efficiency, and what are some successful examples shaping future trade facilitation?

Balmer Lawrie is deeply committed to partnerships that yield measurable improvements in service delivery and efficiency. Our collaborations with major port authorities, leading shipping lines and technology service providers are crucial in streamlining cargo handling and enhancing transparency.

Our collaborations are not just transactional but strategic; they are shaping the contours of our long-term trade facilitation efforts and enabling a robust, interconnected logistics backbone that aligns with India’s international trade ambitions. Our new projects Rail Logistics and 3PL Services in Eastern India are a result of successful collaboration. Also, in a major sustainability push, we’ve started movement of EXIM cargo through rail connectivity between CFS-Kolkata, Haldia Port and Nhava Sheva — a cost-effective, green logistics solution that will lower carbon emissions and improve efficiency. We have collaborated with the ports and private players like Pristine and HTPL to implement this initiative that is impacting the regional logistics landscape in a significant way.

What AI and IoT initiatives has Balmer Lawrie adopted for cargo tracking and analytics, and how are they improving efficiency and customer satisfaction?

Technology is truly at the heart of everything we do, both in our daily operations and our long-term strategy. We have implemented IoT devices across all our warehouses and Container Freight Stations for real-time visibility into cargo tracking, precise temperature monitoring and automated alerts for any deviation. Beyond just tracking, we’re leveraging AI-driven analytics to sharpen our foresight helping us accurately forecast cargo volumes, optimise inventory space, and proactively identify and mitigate potential supply chain risks. The results have been significant: we’ve seen substantial improvements in asset utilization, predictive maintenance and overall service-level reliability. For our clients, this translates into tangible benefits: greater transparency, quicker turnaround and enhanced satisfaction. Internally, digital dashboards and centralised control towers are empowering our teams with better data for decision-making and boosting workforce productivity. These innovations align with our goal to become a data-driven organisation and elevate customer experience across touchpoints.

How does Balmer Lawrie’s Chennai hub for perishables and pharma boost resilience, and are there plans to expand into agri-exports or vaccine logistics?

Balmer Lawrie’s Chennai hub is poised to move beyond traditional bulk and EXIM cargo by targeting high-margin, low-volume volatility segments like perishables and pharmaceuticals. Equipped with advanced cold storage, temperature monitoring, GPS-enabled reefer handling, and value-added services (grading, packaging, blast freezing), the hub ensures end-to-end integrity for temperature-sensitive shipments. The company already handles agri-exports via its Visakhapatnam MMLH and Chennai CFS, which has become a key node for this segment. Efforts are underway to expand agri-export operations across other strategic locations. Balmer Lawrie is also actively engaged in vaccine logistics, leveraging its cold chain infrastructure to deliver reliable, compliant solutions for pharmaceutical and vaccine transport.

How does Balmer Lawrie’s UAE joint venture support India’s trade hub ambitions, and are there plans to expand into new markets or maritime services like container leasing?

The establishment of our subsidiary in the UAE is a really exciting development, and it directly supports India’s ambition to become a central player in global trade networks. We see the Gulf region as a critical trans-shipment and re-export hub, so having a direct presence there allows us to offer truly integrated logistics services. This means everything from warehousing and freight consolidation to seamless customs facilitation for our clients

We are actively exploring opportunities in Africa and Southeast Asia to build an intercontinental corridor for Indian exporters making it easier and more efficient for them to reach new markets. This subsidiary will give Balmer Lawrie a fantastic platform to eventually expand into asset-light maritime services such as container leasing and feeder services. These strategic moves enhance our global value proposition and facilitate smoother cargo flow between India and its trade partners.

What challenges do exporters, importers, and shipping lines face with Balmer Lawrie’s logistics services, and how is the company addressing them to improve service delivery?

Our clients, who range from MSMEs to large multinational corporations, all share common expectations: they want consistency, clear visibility, and speed in their logistics. They often face significant challenges like complex documentation, unpredictable transit times, and occasional infrastructure limitations. We have tackled these head-on by digitising key customer interfaces, introducing a single-window cargo management system, and expanding customer service teams for real-time issue resolution. Further, our periodic stakeholder consultations help us tailor solutions to specific industry needs. These initiatives, coupled with our continuous investment in infrastructure and training, ensure that we stay ahead of customer expectations while reinforcing trust and loyalty in our brand.

How has the Port Link Express between Haldia and Kolkata improved logistics, what challenges were faced, and are there plans to scale this model elsewhere?

Balmer Lawrie marked a major milestone in regional logistics with the launch of the Port Link Express—a dedicated rail service connecting the Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) to its Kolkata CFS. Launched on 29th June 2024, the service began with 80 TEUs of import containers from Haldia (SITC Line) and 90 TEUs of export containers from Kolkata (MSC Line). It serves as a sustainable land bridge between two key logistics hubs in Eastern India.

The initiative addresses long-standing challenges at Kolkata Port, such as limited draft and slow vessel turnaround. Haldia, with deeper draft and better access to the Bay of Bengal, emerged as a more efficient alternative. Balmer Lawrie seized this opportunity, proposing a direct rail link to its inland facility in Kolkata. Backed by HDC authorities and major shipping lines, the project was formalized through an MoU.

Implementing the service required overcoming regulatory and operational hurdles, notably securing customs notification. Once cleared, Balmer Lawrie coordinated with shipping lines, rail operators, and port authorities to develop a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for seamless container handling and rail movement. Since launch, the Port Link Express has cut transport costs, improved delivery timelines, and reduced carbon emissions by shifting cargo from road to rail. It has enhanced efficiency along the Haldia-Kolkata corridor and created a scalable model for green logistics.

Building on this success, Balmer Lawrie has introduced a Rail & Sea logistics solution with Ocean Network Express (ONE), linking Kolkata to Nhava Sheva and improving access to mainline vessels. The Port Link Express exemplifies strategic infrastructure planning and sustainable logistics, setting a new standard for cargo movement in India.

What’s driving growth in Balmer Lawrie’s Logistics Infrastructure division, and how is it positioned to tap into India’s EXIM trade and port-led development?

Balmer Lawrie’s Logistics Infrastructure (LI) division has achieved strong growth by aligning with India’s expanding EXIM trade and port-led development strategy. It is rapidly enhancing multimodal capabilities through key initiatives:

• A 53-acre Multi Modal Logistics Park (MMLP) in Visakhapatnam, developed with Vizag Port Authority, offers bonded and temperature-controlled warehousing, a 1.3 km rail siding, and seamless EXIM connectivity.
• The Port Link Express, a regular export train between Kolkata CFS and Haldia Port, has cut transit times, reduced costs, and improved sustainability.
• Rail logistics is being strengthened through a partnership with GATX India under the LSFTO scheme, enabling long-haul steel transport for SAIL.

In warehousing and cold chain, Balmer Lawrie signed an MoU with CWC in April 2023 to leverage its national network, deploy mini cold chain units in Tier II cities, and expand warehousing in Chennai, Vizag, Bhubaneswar, and Hyderabad.

Digitally, the division is implementing RFID tracking across CFS and MMLP sites to reduce dwell time and improve cargo visibility, while adopting sustainable practices like solar energy, battery-powered forklifts, and green transport solutions.

Balmer Lawrie has strengthened its position by entering third-party logistics (3PL), with Kolkata as the central hub and Bhubaneswar and Siliguri as regional spokes. This move addresses rising demand for integrated logistics and supports a robust regional network. The company is investing in technology, partnerships, and infrastructure to deliver comprehensive logistics solutions aligned with national growth priorities.