India Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Assessment, By Type [Cold Chain Logistics, Non-Cold Chain Logistics], By Procedure [Picking, Storage, Retrieval Systems, Handling Systems], By Component [Storage, Transportation, Monitoring Component], By Application [Chemical Pharma, Biopharma, Specialized Pharma], By Operation [Seaways, Roadways, Railways, Airways, Storage and Services], By Region, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2019-FY2033F

Indian pharmaceutical logistics market is projected to witness a CAGR of 8.12% during the forecast period, FY2026-FY2033, growing from USD 3.93 billion in FY2025 to USD 7.34 billion in FY2033, driven by surging exports, rising domestic consumption, and increased regulatory scrutiny. India’s logistics players are adapting through investments in reefer trucks, GPS-monitored containers, data loggers, and partnerships with pharmaceutical manufacturers. India’s pharmaceutical logistics market is not just evolving, it is recalibrating around compliance, cold chain expansion, and last-mile integrity. With India being the world’s largest provider of generic medicines and a critical supplier of vaccines, the stakes for pharma-grade logistics have never been higher. The traditional warehousing-to-distribution model has evolved into a multi-tiered ecosystem driven by temperature monitoring, digital tracking, and real-time visibility, particularly with the rising demand for biopharma and specialty drugs.

Report Attributes	Details
Base Year	FY2025
Forecast Period	FY2026-FY2033F
Historical Period	FY2019-FY2024
Projected Growth Rate	CAGR of 8.12% between FY2026 and FY2033
Revenue Forecast in FY2033	USD 7.34 billion

Moreover, the pharma supply chain is becoming more patient-centric. The growth of e-pharmacies, temperature-sensitive APIs, and personalized medicine has introduced a new complexity layer, demanding high service levels, rapid fulfillment, and strict handling protocols. Government initiatives such as the PM Gati Shakti programme and revised guidelines under CDSCO (Central Drugs Standard Control Organization) are improving multimodal connectivity and harmonizing storage and transit conditions. Additionally, the Indian pharmaceutical market is growing enormously. For instance, as per the estimates of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), approximately 347 million individuals in India are expected to be sixty or older by 2050. This is further expected to boost the requirement for pharmaceuticals as the elderly are more susceptible to diseases, driving the India pharmaceutical logistics market.

Market Growth due to Surge in Cold Chain Demand Due to Biopharma and Specialty Drugs

Cold chain logistics is no longer a niche in India; it is becoming the standard for high-value pharmaceutical movement. Biologics, vaccines, insulin, and advanced therapies require a tightly controlled cold chain infrastructure, from production to the patient.

In September 2023, India’s Ministry of Health & Family Welfare issued new draft norms requiring mandatory validation of cold storage facilities for vaccine and insulin supply chains, both for public and private sector logistics players. This has led to a significant private sector response. In January 2024, Snowman Logistics inaugurated a new pharma-grade cold storage facility in the Northeast in January 2024, adding around 5,000 pallets of 2–8°C storage, specifically catering to vaccine and biologics clients in western India.

The rising demand from clinical trials and the growing portfolio of India’s biopharma exports, including mRNA and biosimilars, are also pushing 3PLs to upgrade infrastructure. Gati Kausar and ColdEx have both announced fleet expansion plans for pharma-grade reefer trucks with continuous temperature monitoring. Cold chain is no longer an optional add-on; it is a competitive mandate.

Multimodal Logistics Expansion and Policy Support Leading to an Increase in Market Reach

Logistics players are finally moving beyond just roads. India’s multimodal push, especially under PM Gati Shakti, is reconfiguring pharma logistics routes for better time-cost efficiency. Rail and air freight are gaining traction for high-value, low-volume drugs that need speed and precision.

In February 2024, the Indian Railways launched Pharma Express, a dedicated temperature-controlled freight service between Hyderabad and Delhi, with pre-booked reefer containers and validated SOPs in partnership with logistics players such as TCI Express Limited and Allcargo Logistics Limited.

Meanwhile, air cargo terminals in Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad have seen capacity upgrades, including pharma corridors with end-to-end cold chain monitoring, coordinated by the Air Cargo Forum India (ACFI) and AAI Cargo Logistics & Allied Services (AAICLAS).

The growing export of bulk drugs, APIs, and high-value generics, particularly to the U.S. and Europe, is making multimodal logistics not just viable but essential. Add to this, policy-level clarity around standardization, and logistics firms now have an environment conducive to infrastructure scaling.

Dominance of Biopharma Application in Logistics Spend

Among all pharmaceutical verticals, biopharma commands the highest logistics complexity and spend, making it the dominant segment in India's pharmaceutical logistics landscape. Biopharmaceuticals have stringent temperature requirements (2–8 degrees Celsius or even 20 degrees Celsius for some mAbs), short shelf lives, and often involve bulk movement to centralized cold chain hubs for global distribution. With India emerging as a preferred CDMO (Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization) partner for global biologics, logistics has taken center stage.

In July 2023, Biocon Biologics expanded its export footprint by shipping biosimilars from its Bengaluru site to 70 countries, supported by partnerships with Stellar Value Chain Solutions for packaging, conditioning, and validated route mapping.

Biopharma also includes temperature-sensitive clinical trial logistics — an area that has grown as India becomes a testbed for global Phase II/III studies. Logistics providers catering to this segment are adding passive containers, validated SOPs, and a GDP-trained workforce to maintain regulatory compliance. This sub-sector’s precision demands are setting new industry benchmarks and commanding premium pricing in logistics contracts.

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Impact of U.S. Tariffs on India Pharmaceutical Logistics Market

U.S. tariffs on pharmaceuticals on Indian goods and pharma products will disrupt India’s pharmaceutical exports, and the pharma supply chain will largely impact “exports” & “cost to the supply chain.” Specifically, the U.S. can impose higher tariffs on drugs or APIs manufactured in India. Increased pharmaceutical logistics providers may face the following issues: Reduced export, increased warehousing diversification in other markets such as Africa, Europe, and Latin America, exponentially high input costs: Raw materials are expensive or increase prices, e.g., tariffs on “Chinese intermediates used in Indian pharma.” Increases warehousing and transportation costs, such as the cold chain, which is more expensive.

Report Scope

“India Pharmaceutical Logistics Market Assessment, Opportunities and Forecast, FY2019-FY2033”, is a comprehensive report by Markets and Data, providing in-depth analysis and qualitative and quantitative assessment of the current state of India pharmaceutical logistics market, industry dynamics, and challenges. The report includes market size, segmental shares, growth trends, opportunities, and forecasts between FY2026 and FY2033. Additionally, the report profiles the leading players in the industry, mentioning their respective market share, business models, competitive intelligence, etc.

Report Attribute	Details
Segments Covered	Type, Procedure, Component, Application, Operation
Regions Covered	North, East, West and Central, South
Key Companies Profiled	Allcargo Logistics Ltd., Safexpress Pvt. Ltd., Mahindra Logistics Limited, AWL India Private Limited, Snowman Logistics Pvt Ltd, EasyWay Logistics Pvt Ltd, Stellar Value Chain Solutions Pvt Ltd, Future Supply Chain Solutions Ltd., Varuna Group, TCI Express Ltd.
Customization Scope	15% free report customization with purchase
Pricing and Purchase Options	Avail the customized purchase options to fulfill your precise research needs
Delivery Format	PDF and Excel through email (subject to the license purchased)

In the report, the India pharmaceutical logistics market has been segmented into the following categories: 

• By Type
  • Cold Chain Logistics
  • Non-Cold Chain Logistics
• By Procedure
  • Picking
  • Storage
  • Retrieval Systems
  • Handling Systems
• By Component
  • Storage
  • Transportation
  • Monitoring Component
• By Application
  • Chemical Pharma
  • Biopharma
  • Specialized Pharma
• By Operation
  • Seaways
  • Roadways
  • Railways
  • Airways
  • Storage and Services
• By Region
  • North
  • East
  • West and Central
  • South

Key Players Landscape and Outlook

India’s pharmaceutical logistics market is relatively fragmented, but clear leaders are emerging based on service specialization, cold chain depth, and multimodal adaptability. Snowman Logistics, Gati Kausar, and ColdEx lead the cold chain space with pharma-grade warehouses and reefer fleets. Stellar Value Chain and TCI Express are strong in multi-zone transport and compliance-driven packaging solutions. Many players are integrating real-time visibility platforms, investing in blockchain-based tracking, and training the workforce under WHO-GDP guidelines. Mahindra Logistics Limited and Reefer Express, though smaller, have carved out niches in intra-state biopharma supply. What differentiates players now is not just delivery timelines, but how well they can comply, monitor, and adapt in an increasingly regulated and digitized ecosystem.

In December 2023, the boards of Allcargo Logistics Limited and Allcargo Gati Limited approved a composite scheme of arrangement to restructure their businesses. Under the plan, the International Supply Chain (ISC) business—including both the India operations and international subsidiaries—demerged into a new entity, Allcargo ECU Limited. The remaining express and contract logistics businesses were consolidated under Allcargo Logistics. This restructuring aimed to simplify the corporate structure, enhance synergies, and provide direct shareholding to Allcargo and Allcargo Gati shareholders.

Key Players Operating in the India Pharmaceutical Logistics Market are:

• Allcargo Logistics Ltd.
• Safexpress Pvt. Ltd.
• Mahindra Logistics Limited
• AWL India Private Limited
• Snowman Logistics Pvt Ltd
• EasyWay Logistics Pvt Ltd
• Stellar Value Chain Solutions Pvt Ltd
• Future Supply Chain Solutions Ltd.
• Varuna Group
• TCI Express Ltd.

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