Top 10 Logistics Companies in India

If you have ever stopped to consider how things get from point A to B, you might find it useful to do some digging into the top logistics companies in India.  Think, for example, about that book you ordered online.  Certainly, you click a button–order, submit, confirm, you name it–and subsequently receive a message notifying you that your parcel is on its way.  But how does the parcel actually make its way?  Does it leave some factory in the middle of nowhere and pass through a series of pneumatic tubes with Raymond Scott’s Powerhouse chiming melodically in the background?  Does it get attached to the leg of some aviary creature that, weighed down by a parcel twice its mass, painstakingly beats its wings while hopelessly trying to stay airborne?  

What about that postcard you sent to your pen pal when you were younger?  Does it get folded into a paper airplane and gracefully glide over the mountains and large bodies of water until it lands serendipitously on the window sill or doorstep of its intended recipient?  Perhaps–though highly unlikely.  Regardless, all of these different modes of transportation–of getting things from A to B–require some semblance of planning.  More specifically, they demand logistical planning, ensuring that an object–be it a book or a postcard–gets from its starting point to its destination within a given time frame as efficiently as possible.

If you think about it, even we as humans are items subject to bigger logistical chains.  Every time you travel–by plane, train, bus, boat, etc.–you’re making a decision about the point from which you’re leaving, the point at which you will end up (hopefully), and how long you would like for it to take for you to get there.  The Biggest Logistics Companies in the World exist almost exclusively to think about these processes and figure out the best way to deliver goods–and people–within a time constraint.  As economies in developing countries such as India continue to expand rapidly, you might find it worthwhile to know a bit more about some of the sub-continent’s most formidable logistics firms.

To formulate this list of top logistics companies in India, we made use of four quantitative measures–market capitalization, net sales, net profit, and total assets–to generate an all-encompassing list of major players in the logistics and transportation industry in India.  Each company was ranked by category with a ranking of one indicating top performance, two indicating second-best performance, and so on.  After rankings were completed for all categories, all scores were aggregated, and the company with the lowest overall score was awarded the top position among all logistics companies in India.  In the event of a tie between two companies, the higher position was awarded to the business with the higher rank in the most individual categories.  For example, SpiceJet and Allcargo both earned an aggregate score of 23, but because SpiceJet ranked higher in market share, net sales, and net profit, it was awarded a higher overall position than was Allcargo. And now, let’s see our list of top logistics companies in India.

10. Snowman Logistics

Founded in 1993, this Bangalore-based company specializes in temperature-controlled services, which contributed to 90% of its total sales value in 2016.  By strategically placing temperature-controlled warehouses nearby cities like Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, and Bengaluru, all of which play major roles in the sourcing and consumption of temperature controlled products, Snowman has been able to stay a giant step ahead of its competitors in this specific logistics niche.  Noteworthy among the company’s major investors are Northwest Venture Partners VII-A Mauritius, Mitsubishi Logistics Corporation, International Finance Corporation, and Gateway Distriparks Limited, its largest shareholder.  With a total warehouse capacity of 90,000 pallets, Snowman Logistics does much to live up to its mission of improving the efficiency of its distribution process through innovative and cost-effective logistics solutions. And now, ;et’s see what else we have on our list of top logistics companies in India.

9. Aegis Logistics

A liquid logistics company founded in 1956, Aegis main business operations consist of liquid petroleum gas and service revenue, which combined to account for over 99% of its total sales value.  With a focus on five major business segments, which include filling plants, pipelines, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), bulk liquid handling terminals, and gas stations, the group boasts a client base that ranges from individual retailers to major Indian industrial corporations. Aegis that ranks 9th in the list of top logistics companies in India operates domestically and internationally through its subsidiaries, and differentiates itself from other firms in the market with its focus on quality, safety and environmental standards.  To this end, the company has certifications in Occupational Health and Safety (OHSAS 18001), Quality Management, and Environmental Management.

8. Transport Corporation of India

With over 90% of its total sales value generated in the form of freight and demurrage, Transport Corporation of India (TCI) that ranks 8th in our list of top logistics companies in India stands out as one of India’s chief freight logistics companies.  Founded in 1958, this Haryana-based company employs over 6,000 workers, makes use of over 11 million square feet of warehouse space, and boasts a network of over 1400 company-owned offices.  TCI prides itself on a customer-centric approach, which is manifested in over Rs 2,200 in revenue as of the most recent figures, as well as its having received the 2017 Manufacturing Supply Chain Service Provider of the Year award.

7. Navkar Corporation

We are continuing our list of top logistics companies in India with Navkar that is fairly new as far as Indian logistics companies go–having just been founded in 2011–though this hasn’t stopped them from quickly emerging as one of India’s most formidable container freight station logistics groups, with over 97% of its revenue generated from this niche.  Using a combination of single-window solutions, enhanced offerings via repair facilities and haz-chem handling, specialized logistics through monitoring and tracking, strategic operating locations, privatized rail freight service, and on-site customs, Navkar has bored its way into the logistics industry and secured one of the most valuable asset collections of any logistics firm in India at over Rs 1,300 overall.

6. VRL Logistics

Founded in 1983, VRL Logistics, does most of its business in the transportation services niche sector of logistics, with the combination of this and travel operations logistics composes over 95% of the company’s sales value.  Based in Karnataka, the group, which began as a publishing house is the owner of the largest fleet of commercial vehicles in all of India’s private sector, with a 4253-vehicle collection consisting of 3872 goods transport vehicles and 381 passenger transport vehicles.  VRL General Cargo, a subsidiary of the group, handles more than 6,000 metric tonnes of parcels each day in 12 states for over 5,000 customers.

5. Allcargo

A major cog in the Avvashya Group, Allcargo Logistics is one of India’s largest publicly-listed logistics firms with over 8,000 employees and a listed revenue of Rs 56.18 million.  Founded in 1993, the firm specializes in multi-modal transport operations, though it is also involved in container freight stations, warehousing, third-party logistics, and a number of other business niches.  With 200 corporate offices scattered throughout 90 different countries, and India’s 5th-largest market cap among similar companies, it’s not hard to see why Allcargo is one of  the top logistics companies in India.

4. SpiceJet

Based in Guragon with hubs in Hyderabad and Delhi, SpiceJet is a budget airline whose primary streams of income are generated through aviation and cargo.  The group’s relatively low-cost business model has made it an attractive offer to travelers, as it transports the fourth-most passengers among all Indian airlines, and boasts the 4th-largest market share among logistics companies.  SpiceJet uses a 50-piece aircraft fleet to carry out 291 daily flights to 40 destinations, six of which are international.

3. Jet Airways

With over 21,000 crore in annual revenue, Jet Airways is India’s highest-grossing logistics company by quite a substantial margin.  Founded in 1992, India’s second-largest airline in terms of market share has hubs in Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, and many others.  Boasting over 14,000 employees under payroll, Jet Airways has enjoyed continued growth over the past decade, including codeshare agreements with 24 different airlines and 114 planes in operation, with another 75 having been recently ordered to expand the fleet even further.

2. Container Corporation of India

At over 6,300 crore, Container Corporation of India that ranks second in our list of top logistics companies in India, has the largest quantity of assets of any Indian logistics company.  Founded in 1988, Container Corporation’s business operations focus mostly on freight, which contributes to 82% of the company’s overall revenue stream.  The group boasts a network of 67 freight container stations throughout India–the largest of any logistics firm–and operates as a warehouse operator, cargo carrier, and terminal operator.  In addition to its impressive collection of assets, Container Corporation of India also holds the second-largest market share of any logistics operator, and is the third-most profitable of any firm.

1. Interglobe Aviation

Boasting the largest market share, most profitability, second-largest revenue stream, and third-largest collection of assets among Indian logistics companies, Interglobe is undoubtedly deserving of the top spot in a list of the top logistics companies in India.  Founded in 1989, Interglobe enjoys a massive revenue stream from its operations in the airline industry as the parent company of India’s leading airline in terms of market share: IndiGo.  Though headquartered in Guragon, Interglobe’s presence is felt the world over with a network of 126 offices scattered throughout 59 cities.  With an employee base of over 20,000, Interglobe adds to its airline dealings with associated services in travel commerce solutions, IT, hospitality, and much more.  With its diverse offerings, dominance of fellow industry players, and excellent future growth prospects, Interglobe Aviation is a no-brainer for first place among top 10 logistics companies in India.