Pankaj Bhardwaj of APSEZ said the next phase of warehousing development is likely to be driven by growing demand from businesses operating outside the country’s traditional logistics hubs.    India’s warehousing sector has expanded significantly in recent years, supported by the growth of organised retail, e-commerce, manufacturing and third-party logistics. While major cities continue to account for a substantial share of modern warehousing capacity, demand is increasingly emerging from tier-II and tier-III locations.    The expansion beyond major cities could help companies position inventory closer to consumers and manufacturing clusters, reducing transportation distances and improving supply-chain efficiency. Improved road connectivity and the development of multimodal logistics infrastructure are also supporting this trend.    For logistics operators and developers, the shift is creating opportunities to establish distribution facilities in emerging consumption and industrial centres. Demand is expected to be particularly relevant for sectors requiring faster delivery and wider geographic coverage.    APSEZ has been expanding its logistics and integrated supply-chain capabilities alongside its port operations, including warehousing and inland logistics infrastructure.

The broader development of warehouses outside major cities could contribute to a more distributed logistics network in India, while supporting the government’s efforts to improve supply-chain efficiency and reduce logistics costs.