CIAL Cargo Business Summit 2026 Reinforces Kochi as Multimodal Logistics Hub

Summary

Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) hosted the International Cargo Business Summit (ICBS) 2026, bringing together policymakers, regulators and global cargo experts to map the next phase of air‑freight and multimodal connectivity from Kochi. CIAL’s Managing Director S. Suhas highlighted the airport’s 2.5 lakh sq. ft cargo warehousing complex and its role in routing nearly 60% of Kerala’s air cargo – much of it perishables – through Kochi. The summit emphasised strengthening cold‑chain capacity, securing pharmaceutical handling certification and building an integrated multimodal cargo network with CIAL as the nucleus.

Key themes included the ‘Sea‑to‑Sky’ concept linking port activity to rapid air freight, expanding trade ties with the EU, ASEAN, Africa and GCC markets, digital automation in cargo handling, e‑commerce export hubs, and stricter controls on dangerous goods and packaging. CIAL reported handling over 65,000 metric tonnes of cargo last year with projections of around 74,000 tonnes in the current fiscal year. The summit also featured a trade exhibition (54 stalls) and an incubation centre for first‑time exporters.

Key Points

CIAL positions Kochi as a multimodal logistics nucleus integrating air, sea, rail and road networks.
CIAL’s 2.5 lakh sq. ft cargo warehousing handles a large share of Kerala’s exports; ~60% of the state’s air cargo passes through the airport.
Cargo throughput: >65,000 tonnes last financial year; projected ~74,000 tonnes for the current fiscal.
State government announced plans for a comprehensive multimodal cargo network with CIAL at its core.
Pharma cargo certification in progress to diversify freight mix and add higher‑value handling capabilities.
‘Sea‑to‑Sky’ model highlighted as a cost‑effective way to scale exports by linking port and air services.
Digitalisation and automation are priorities to raise efficiency and throughput while balancing security and compliance.
E‑commerce exports and last‑mile reliability were emphasised; India Post is expanding cross‑border capability.
Operational risks such as misdeclared dangerous goods prompted calls for stricter enforcement and standardisation.
Trade exhibition and an export incubation centre aim to broaden India’s exporter base and support first‑time exporters.

Author note

Punchy: Kochi’s not just talking growth — it’s building the pipes to make it happen. Numbers, policy signals and infrastructure moves from ICBS 2026 suggest CIAL is being groomed as a genuine export gateway for South India. If you work in air cargo, perishables, pharma logistics or e‑commerce, the detail here matters.

Why should I read this?

Look — if your business ships stuff out of South India or you’re tracking regional logistics hubs, this one’s worth a five‑minute skim. The summit spells out where investment, certification (pharma), cold‑chain and digitalisation are heading around Kochi — and that affects costs, lead times and market access for exporters and logistics providers.

Context and relevance

The summit confirms wider industry trends: clustering logistics capacity around airports, pushing multimodal linkages to lower overall transit time, and targeting higher‑value cargo such as pharmaceuticals and perishable agricultural produce. With India deepening trade ties with the EU, ASEAN, Africa and GCC, regional gateways like Kochi can capture rerouted trade flows if infrastructure, regulatory compliance and cold‑chain are in place. The emergence of logistics parks near CIAL and government backing for a multimodal network increase the likelihood of meaningful capacity and capability growth in the medium term.