The ongoing West Asian crisis has dealt a significant blow to Kerala’s air cargo exports, with shipments from both Cochin International Airport (CIAL) and Calicut International Airport registering steep declines during the March–May 2026 period compared with the corresponding months of 2025.
According to a report prepared by the Kerala Exporters Forum, cargo exports through CIAL declined by 36.41% in March, 31.54% in April, and 32.84% in May. Calicut International Airport witnessed an even sharper downturn, with exports falling by 53.35% in March, 55.73% in April, and 56.63% in May.
The overall air cargo export performance of the state also weakened during the period. Export volumes dropped from 13,580 TEUs in March 2025 to 11,238 TEUs in March 2026, while April exports declined from 11,866 TEUs to 8,622 TEUs year-on-year.
Munshid Ali, Secretary of the Kerala Exporters Forum, attributed the decline primarily to the disruption caused by the West Asian conflict. He noted that a substantial share of Kerala’s perishable exports—including seafood, fresh vegetables, fruits, and other agricultural commodities—is routed through Gulf countries, particularly Dubai, which serves as a major transshipment and distribution hub.
“The ongoing conflict has increased uncertainty over the safety and reliability of critical trade routes such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea,” Ali said. “The disruptions have led to higher freight rates, increased insurance costs, longer transit times, and greater supply chain uncertainty for exporters.”
He stressed that export-oriented states like Kerala must diversify their logistics networks by expanding direct international cargo connectivity and upgrading airport infrastructure to reduce dependence on a single transit region and improve resilience against future geopolitical disruptions.
The report also highlighted infrastructure constraints at Calicut International Airport as a major factor behind its sharper decline in exports. Its limited cargo handling capacity has restricted export operations, whereas Cochin International Airport’s ability to handle wide-body cargo aircraft provides exporters with greater capacity, operational flexibility, and reduced risk of shipment delays.
Industry stakeholders believe that strengthening direct cargo connectivity and enhancing airport cargo infrastructure will be critical to restoring export momentum and safeguarding Kerala’s trade against future global disruptions.
