Coimbatore Airport Exports Suffer Sharp 40% Decline Amid Regional Conflict
Exports from Coimbatore International Airport have experienced a significant downturn, recording a nearly 40% decline since the beginning of this year. The ongoing conflict in West Asia, which escalated on February 28, has further exacerbated the situation, contributing to an additional 14.29% reduction in air cargo volumes from the airport.
Detailed Cargo Statistics Reveal Steep Drop
According to official data shared by airport director Mohammad Arif, the airport handled 77 metric tonnes of exports during the second fortnight of February, which included 39 metric tonnes of perishable goods. Imports during the same period stood at 18 metric tonnes. However, in the first fortnight of March, export figures dropped sharply to 66 metric tonnes, while imports fell to just 11 metric tonnes.
The year-on-year comparison paints an even starker picture. In January this year, the airport managed 130.5 metric tonnes of international freight, representing a 26.5% decrease from the 177.6 metric tonnes handled in January 2025. February saw an even more dramatic decline, with only 102.3 metric tonnes of international freight processed—a substantial 43.2% drop from the 180.1 metric tonnes recorded in February 2025.
West Asia Conflict Disrupts Traditional Trade Routes
The breakdown of airline services to major Middle Eastern destinations including Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi has severely impacted both export and import operations. Industry representatives have confirmed that approximately 30% of cargo has been rerouted to other Indian cities such as Bengaluru and Chennai for subsequent export to different countries via European routes.
J Sathish, a core committee member of CoimbatoreNXT, explained the multifaceted challenges: "Multiple factors have contributed to this year's decline, including US tariff increases and reduced airline services, particularly to Singapore. The situation has been significantly aggravated by the West Asia conflict. About 30% of international cargo that typically travels beyond the Middle East has been redirected through European channels."
Operational Challenges and Industry Response
Currently, air cargo from Coimbatore is being transported via European countries, bypassing the traditional Middle Eastern hub. However, since flight operations have not fully resumed from these alternative destinations, freight movement continues to face substantial limitations. Sathish further noted that Indian carriers have not completely restored their services to the Middle Eastern hub, compounding the logistical challenges.
The perishable goods sector, which constitutes a significant portion of Coimbatore's exports, has maintained its volume at 39 metric tonnes despite the overall decline. This suggests that while total export quantities have decreased, certain critical commodities continue to move through the airport, albeit with increased logistical complexity and potential delays.
The combination of geopolitical tensions, operational disruptions, and broader economic factors has created a challenging environment for Coimbatore's export sector, with industry stakeholders closely monitoring the situation for potential improvements in the coming months.
