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US President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on a broader range of countries beyond the "dirty 15," which represent the largest trade deficits with the US. This move could benefit India, as it would create a more level playing field by subjecting many of its competitors to similar tariffs. While Trump did not specify the number of countries affected, he emphasized that the tariffs would be "kinder" than those imposed on the US. As negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US continue, India hopes to mitigate the impact of these tariffs. In FY24, India recorded a trade imbalance of over $35 billion with the US, exporting $77.51 billion and importing $42.19 billion. The Indian government is closely monitoring the situation, particularly in light of Trump's comments regarding tariffs on countries purchasing oil from Russia. 
Published: Mar 31 2025, 8 pmeznews.inThe Tamil Nadu government is set to issue a tender for the development of the ₹20,000 crore greenfield Parandur airport, located approximately 70 km west of Chennai, following anticipated in-principle approval from the Centre. Designed to accommodate 10 crore passengers annually, the airport will feature two runways, terminal buildings, taxiways, an apron, and a cargo terminal. Land acquisition is progressing, with compensation reportedly five to six times the market value. However, local villagers from 13 surrounding communities, including Ekanapuram and Nelvoy, have been protesting for nearly 983 days, fearing the project will disrupt their livelihoods. The existing Chennai airport currently serves over 2.2 crore passengers annually, with modernization efforts expected to increase capacity to 3.5 crore in the coming years. The Ministry of Defence has already granted a No Objection for site clearance for the new airport.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 9 ameznews.inAdani Ports and Special Economic Zone (APSEZ) has reported a record cargo handling of 200.7 million metric tonnes (MMT) for the financial year 2025, marking it as the first Indian port to surpass this milestone. This achievement reflects a seven percent year-on-year growth, with March 2025 alone seeing a nine percent increase in cargo volume to 41.5 MMT. The surge was primarily driven by a 20 percent rise in container volumes, while liquid and gas handling grew by nine percent. Additionally, logistics rail volume reached 0.64 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), an eight percent increase. The Vizhinjam port also celebrated a significant achievement, crossing the 100,000 TEUs milestone in March. These developments underscore the robust growth trajectory of India's logistics and port sectors, as highlighted in APSEZ's recent stock exchange filing.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIn a significant move for India's dairy sector, MilkLane, the dairy and cattle feed arm of Innoterra, has entered a three-year partnership with Milky Mist Dairy, valued at over ₹400 crore. This collaboration aims to supply 1 lakh litres of premium milk daily, benefiting over 10,000 farmers by ensuring fair pricing and access to high-nutrition cattle feed. Milky Mist, which processes approximately 1.5 million litres of milk daily at its Tamil Nadu facility, will enhance its product offerings with high-quality, traceable milk sourced from MilkLane's extensive farmer network. The partnership emphasizes rigorous quality control measures, including real-time supply chain tracking and comprehensive testing for contaminants. Both companies highlight the importance of maintaining product quality and safety in a sector that faces challenges such as inconsistent milk composition and contamination risks. This alliance is poised to elevate industry standards and improve the welfare of farmers while providing consumers with safe dairy products.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndia has introduced a new procurement policy, the Domestically Manufactured Iron & Steel Products Policy-2025, aimed at bolstering domestic steel production and curbing imports that threaten local market stability. Effective immediately, the policy mandates that all government agencies prioritize locally produced steel, including flat-rolled products and railway materials, which must meet specific domestic manufacturing criteria. A reciprocal clause will prevent suppliers from countries that restrict Indian firms from participating in their government tenders from bidding in India. The policy also emphasizes domestic value addition, requiring capital goods used in steel production to achieve at least 50% local content. While the initiative aims to enhance self-reliance and support Indian manufacturers, industry experts caution that its success will depend on effective enforcement and the capacity of domestic producers to meet quality and volume demands. The policy is set to run for five years, with potential for extension.
Published: Apr 02 2025, 10 ameznews.inIndian Railways reported a 1.68% increase in freight transportation for the fiscal year 2025, reaching 1,617.38 million tonnes (mt), up from 1,590.68 mt in the previous year. This rise in loading has translated into improved earnings, with revenues climbing to ₹1,75,302.37 crore, a 1.76% increase from ₹1,72,269.83 crore last year. Coal continues to dominate the freight sector, contributing 723.85 mt, including 98.933 mt of imported coal. Other significant commodities include iron ore at 178.121 mt, cement at 86.708 mt, and clinker at 62.635 mt. Additionally, food grains, fertilizers, and mineral oil accounted for 49.77 mt, 59.92 mt, and 50.798 mt, respectively. Container traffic also showed robust performance, with domestic containers at 24.70 mt and export-import (EXIM) containers at 64.03 mt, alongside miscellaneous goods totaling 120.425 mt.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inThe Integral Coach Factory (ICF) in Chennai has achieved a significant milestone by producing 3,007 coaches in the 2024-25 fiscal year, surpassing last year's output of 2,829. This production includes 1,169 Distributed Power Rolling Stock (DPRS) coaches, featuring Vande Bharat Sleeper and Chair Cars, as well as EMU and MEMU units. Additionally, 1,838 Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches were manufactured. Noteworthy accomplishments include the rollout of ICF's first-ever 16-car Vande Bharat Sleeper rake, the introduction of eight treasury van coaches, and the production of the inaugural 12-car Namo Bharat Rapid Rail. The factory also delivered 21 rakes of Vande Bharat trains and four rakes of 22 coaches each for the Amrit Bharat 2.0 initiative, enhancing long-distance travel facilities. This achievement underscores ICF's commitment to advancing India's rail infrastructure.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inSouth Central Railway (SCR) has reported a record performance in freight operations for the financial year 2024-25, achieving a freight loading of 144.140 million tonnes (MT), a 2% increase from the previous year's 141.120 MT. The zone also saw a rise in freight revenue, reaching ₹13,825 crores, again up by 2% compared to the prior year. This growth is attributed to SCR's strategic focus on attracting new freight streams and enhancing infrastructure at freight terminals. Notably, coal remained the dominant commodity, contributing 70.147 MT, followed by cement and clinker at 37.604 MT. Other significant commodities included fertilizers, food grains, and iron ore. The overall buoyancy in freight loading across various commodity streams underscores SCR's commitment to strengthening its freight business.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inIn March 2025, the Indian passenger vehicle market showed mixed results, with leading manufacturers Maruti Suzuki India (MSIL) and Hyundai Motor India (HMIL) reporting year-on-year declines in wholesales. This trend is attributed to a high base from the previous year and ongoing macroeconomic challenges, including sluggish consumption growth and inflation. The dominance of sports utility vehicles (SUVs) in both urban and rural markets is expected to further impact the sales of other vehicle types, according to industry experts. The Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) forecasts a modest growth of 1-2% for the passenger vehicle sector. Despite these challenges, MSIL achieved record exports of over 300,000 units in FY25, bolstered by strong demand for new models like the Fronx and 5-door Jimny. Meanwhile, Mahindra & Mahindra reported unprecedented sales, selling over 500,000 SUVs domestically, highlighting a shift in consumer preferences and innovation in the sector.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman launched the "NITI NCAER States Economic Forum" portal in New Delhi on April 1, 2025, aimed at enhancing state-level economic decision-making. Developed by NITI Aayog in collaboration with the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), the portal serves as a comprehensive repository of data spanning 30 years, covering social, economic, and fiscal parameters. Sitharaman emphasized the portal's role in enabling states to make informed interventions, manage debts, and learn from peer experiences while maintaining a balance in public finances. The platform will facilitate benchmarking against national figures and foster discussions among policymakers and researchers. NCAER's Director General, Dr. Poonam Gupta, highlighted the need for such a resource to appreciate the fiscal positions of various states, while NITI Aayog CEO BVR Subrahamanyam noted its potential to enhance public knowledge and fiscal learning across states.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pmeznews.inUnion Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has firmly rebutted former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram's claims of a reduction in the central government's capital expenditure (capex), asserting that there has been no cut. In a statement to the Rajya Sabha, she highlighted that the actual release under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI) for FY25 is nearing the budget estimate of ₹1.5 lakh crore, surpassing the revised estimate of ₹1.25 lakh crore. Sitharaman described Chidambaram's assertions as "misleading" and based on "flawed comparisons," emphasizing that budget estimates evolve into revised estimates based on various factors, including the Model Code of Conduct during elections and extreme weather events. She noted a year-on-year increase in capex, with allocations rising from ₹10.01 lakh crore in FY24 to ₹11.11 lakh crore in FY25, and criticized Chidambaram's selective arithmetic as politically motivated.
Published: Apr 01 2025, 9 pm
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