Indian companies are facing disruptions ranging from shipment delays to shortages of key raw materials due to the ongoing West Asia conflict, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) said on Sunday, highlighting growing stress across sectors dependent on global trade flows.
In a statement, CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said firms are already seeing "downstream effects" as the conflict disrupts key maritime routes and tightens global supply chains.
"Indian companies are experiencing downstream effects, from shipment delays to constraints in key energy inputs, as well as emerging shortages in essential raw materials and intermediates across several sectors that rely heavily on timely cross-border flows," he said.
The industry body noted that disruptions have also placed pressure on energy markets and trade, affecting both imports and exports, with ripple-effects being felt across manufacturing and other industries.
"The conflict in the Middle East has disrupted critical 

Trade, ports, export

CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said firms are already seeing "downstream effects" as the conflict disrupts key maritime routes and tightens global supply chains

Press Trust of India

Amazon views India as a long-term investment market where e-commerce is still in its early stages, with substantial headroom for growth supported by strong macroeconomic fundamentals and upbeat consumer sentiments, according to a senior company executive.
Abhinav Singh, VP - Operations, India and Australia for Amazon, said that the company's recent announcement here on expansion of 'zero referral fee' coverage to 12.5 crore products (from 1.2 crore items in 2025) has got positive and encouraging response from sellers.
"The response from the sellers has been very encouraging. They're excited not just with the fee reduction, but also excited to pass on those benefits to the customers, so customers in the marketplace can enjoy better prices. And at the same time, from a seller perspective, they are able to improve their margin so they are really excited about it," he said.
He said the company's long-term outlook for India remains robust, given the structural advantages.
"... We have b

amazon

'E-commerce adoption is becoming more widespread, and the next wave of growth will be led by smaller cities and middle-income groups'

Indian enterprises are outpacing their global counterparts in terms of large-scale adoption of Artificial Intelligence, with most organisations expecting to increase their AI spending next year, according to a report by Deloitte.
However, this rapid deployment contrasts with a significant capability gap, as India reports lower levels of specialist AI expertise compared to the global average.
The 'State of AI in the Enterprise' report for 2026 revealed that Indian firms are advancing past trials to lead global peers in large-scale AI adoption across key functions.
"... At-scale deployment is strongest in Product Development (62 per cent), Strategy and Operations (56 per cent), Marketing & Sales (55 per cent) and Supply Chain (48 per cent), signalling that AI is increasingly embedded into functions that drive growth, efficiency, and competitive advantage.
"40 per cent of Indian respondents report significant or full usage, compared with a global average of approximately 28 per cent,

AI WORKER, AI EMPLOYEE, artificial intelligence

The 'State of AI in the Enterprise' report for 2026 revealed that Indian firms are advancing past trials to lead global peers in large-scale AI adoption across key functions

Air-conditioner manufacturers are treading cautiously after unusual rainfall triggered by western disturbances swept large parts of the country that could potentially disrupt early summer demand, which typically drives sales.
The industry is also jittery over the recently announced price hikes amid the ongoing geopolitical tension in West Asia that led to an increase in prices of raw materials, such as plastics, while limited availability of LPG gas, impacting production.
Because of plastic, prices of other large appliances such as washing machines are also likely to rise 10-12 per cent, industry leaders indicated.
March is traditionally when demand for cooling products accelerates, but the unusual weather has left manufacturers jittery. However, industry executives remain hopeful as they expect a rise in temperature in April.
"If you look at the weather, beyond next week, temperature is moving up now in Delhi and parts of north India," said Kamal Nandi, Business Head and EVP, ...

air conditioner, ACs

Because of plastic, prices of other large appliances such as washing machines are also likely to rise 10-12 per cent, industry leaders indicated

Insolvency appellate tribunal NCLAT has exempted IL&FS Group companies -- categorised as 'red' and 'amber' -- from corporate social responsibility (CSR) on account of interest expenses accrued on their loan amount.
The order will benefit around 50 'amber' and 'red' companies of the debt-ridden IL&FS Group, which are protected under the moratorium granted by the NCLAT from its order dated October 15, 2018.
These 'red' and 'amber' entities have not been accruing interest on their outstanding debts, resulting in such companies showing notional profits in their books of accounts under Section 198 of the Companies Act.
Such notional profits have led to such companies liable to comply with CSR obligations under Section 135 of the Act. IL&FS Group moved an application last year before NCLAT to correct this, seeking exemption for entities from compliance with CSR obligations.
A notice was issued to the government on the application by IL&FS.
A two-member bench, which also ...

gavel

These 'red' and 'amber' entities have not been accruing interest on their outstanding debts, resulting in such companies showing notional profits in their books of accounts

India's urea plants are running at half capacity after force majeure declarations disrupted LNG flows through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating West Asia tensions, industry sources said on Sunday.
Petronet LNG Ltd, which operates India's largest liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, declared force majeure after upstream suppliers cited their inability to deliver contracted volumes amid disruptions to cargoes transiting the Strait, sources said.
The move triggered supply curtailments by state-owned gas distributors GAIL (India) Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOC) and Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd (BPCL), which supply gas under RasGas contracts to fertiliser units across the country.
"Gas supplies have been curtailed to approximately 60-65 per cent of normal levels," a senior industry official told PTI, adding that when scheduled plant turnarounds over the past six months were factored in, effective supply at some units had fallen below 50 per cent.
Urea output at affecte

Oil reserve, gas sector

Petronet LNG Ltd, which operates India's largest liquefied natural gas receiving terminal, declared force majeure after upstream suppliers cited their inability to deliver contracted volumes

With West Asia in turmoil and crude oil prices rising, the All India Distillers' Association (AIDA) has offered to supply ethanol blends exceeding 20 per cent with petrol, saying the move could proportionally reduce India's dependence on imported crude oil.
In a letter to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, AIDA Deputy Director General Bharati Balaji said the ethanol industry was prepared to go beyond the E20 target already achieved by the country.
"Now with the Middle East entangled in a war and oil prices having started increasing, we as an ethanol industry are ready to offer ethanol more than 20 per cent which will reduce proportionally the import of crude," she said in the letter.
She said such a step will mitigate supply disruptions and adverse economic impact on the country.
India achieved its E20 ethanol blending target -- mixing 20 per cent ethanol with petrol -- ahead of schedule in 2025, a goal set under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administrat

sugar mill, ethanol, sugar

AIDA Deputy Director General Bharati Balaji said the ethanol industry was prepared to go beyond the E20 target already achieved by the country.

To avoid costly overcapacity, VW is applying "clear manufacturing cost targets" to all its plants, be they in Germany, Europe or China

Oliver Blume

Bloomberg

Czech automotive brand Skoda is eyeing up to 12 per cent sales growth in India this year on the back of 'ten product actions' and network expansion in the country, according to a senior company official.
Skoda Auto India, which has launched the facelift version of its mid-sized SUV Kushaq, has set its eyes on crossing the 1 lakh annual sales milestone in future, but not in 2026, having sold close to 72,000 units in 2025, its Brand Director, Ashish Gupta, told PTI.
Helped by the GST reforms, passenger vehicle retail sales in India stood at 44,75,309 units in 2025, as compared to 40,79,532 units in 2024, a growth of 9.7 per cent, as per the Federation of Automobile Dealers Associations (FADA).
"I expect a growth of 4-5 per cent in the market this year, and 4 to 5 per cent on such a high base would be a great growth," he said when asked about the growth outlook for PV sales in the domestic market.
As for Skoda Auto India, he said in 2025 the company had almost 100 per cent growth, ...

Volkswagen, Skoda

Skoda Auto India, which has launched the facelift version of its mid-sized SUV Kushaq, has set its eyes on crossing the 1 lakh annual sales milestone in future, but not in 2026

With 70 per cent of its best-selling electric vehicle model Windsor coming from non-metros, JSW MG Motor India is stepping up efforts to accelerate sales by leveraging the opportunity through increased awareness, according to a senior company official.
The MG Windsor has clocked cumulative sales of about 65,000 units since its launch in October 2024. Of the total sales of the model, four metros -- Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai accounted for 30 per cent and rest of India contributed to 70 per cent.
Commenting on the trend, JSW MG Motor India Chief Commercial Officer, Vinay Raina said EV sales were initially concentrated in metro cities, largely due to limited awareness and the absence of products that truly appealed to the masses.
"The introduction of the MG Windsor changed this dynamic and became a key enabler of rapid EV adoption in non-metro cities. It was the right product at the right time -- encouraging customers in these markets to experience a sustainable driving option

electric vehicle

From an EV growth perspective, "The non-metro regions present a tremendous opportunity, and we aim to play a leading role in this journey, said JSW MG's senior official

In a bid to strengthen the EV infrastructure, the Delhi government is likely to urge vehicle manufacturers to set up charging stations under its new EV policy, a senior government official said on Friday.
With the existing electric vehicle (EV) policy set to lapse by March-end, the government plans to finalise and notify the revised policy by then, looking to table the policy in the upcoming budget session.
"We have asked around 400 venders and vehicle-makers to explore setting up EV charging stations, and the Delhi government will provide all required assistance," an official said.
With its pollution-control action plan promoting greater adoption of electric vehicles, the Delhi government plans to add 7,000 EV charging stations across the city.
Currently, EV charging stations are mostly situated at Namo Bharat and Delhi Metro stations, and set up by power discoms. Delhi has around 8,800 EV charging stations at present, according to official data.
Now, the Delhi government plans t

ev, electronic vehicle, car, charge

Delhi plans 7,000 new EV charging stations and seeks private sector participation as part of its upcoming EV policy to boost clean mobility

Compared with last year's Budget, the Union Budget 2026-27 builds on the credit framework while moving decisively towards equity funding, market-linked liquidity, and structured compliance support

MSMEs

Business Standard

TNC Rajagopalan answers SME queries related to GST, export and import matters

export

Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy unveiled third round of speciality steel PLI scheme with relaxed thresholds, updated pricing benchmarks, and wider MSME participation to boost steel manufacturing

H D Kumaraswamy (Photo: X/@hd_kumaraswamy)

Base year revised, thresholds relaxed to reflect current market trends

Trade expert cites FTP Para 1.08 and CBIC circulars requiring that export consignments not be detained beyond three days, and clarifies documentation norms under the Advance Authorisation scheme

trade

Move linked to alleged mis-selling of Credit Suisse AT1 bonds to NRIs; comes days after chairman Atanu Chakraborty's sudden resignation

HDFC Bank

Liquidity surplus narrows amid advance tax outflows and GST payments, while muted demand seen in RBI's VRR auctions and short-term borrowing shifts to TREPS market

RBI, Reserve Bank of India

India's corporate bond market has seen subdued activity amid global uncertainty and rising yields, with issuers deferring borrowings and FY26 issuances trailing last year's levels

bond markets, bonds, bond market

India's credit culture is evolving rapidly, with 183 million people monitoring their CIBIL scores in 2025. Gen Z is leading the shift towards proactive financial awareness and ownership

Rs, Rupee, Cash, Credit, Economy, Saving, Payment, Indian Currency

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