Business · Companies · 1 hr ago
Rising delivery costs put pressure on Indian e-commerce firms
In India, logistics companies are raising prices as operating costs climb ahead of the festive season.
Blue Dart plans a 9–12% increase across its domestic services from 1 January 2027, while Emiza has raised prices by 10–15% in recent months.
Quick-commerce logistics provider Zippee is considering selective festive-season price adjustments in areas where demand and operating needs justify them.
Higher costs include labour, warehousing and last-mile delivery, with firms also facing temporary worker shortages and added staffing needs during busy periods.
Logistics can account for 10–20% of an e-commerce business’s expenses, leaving sellers with limited room to absorb repeated increases.
Online brands may rethink discounts, delivery fees and minimum order values to protect their margins, though responses will vary by business and product.
The sources do not specify a single industry-wide change, but say sellers are likely to reassess delivery choices and order profitability.
Logistics providers in India are raising prices or considering festive-season surcharges as labour, warehousing and last-mile delivery costs rise.
Higher charges could push e-commerce brands and sellers to absorb costs or reconsider discounts, delivery fees and fulfilment strategies.
Blue Dart plans to increase prices across its domestic portfolio by 9-12% from 1 January 2027.
Mumbai-based Emiza has raised prices by 10-15% over the past few months, citing higher labour costs and temporary workforce shortages.
Zippee is considering selective festive-season pricing adjustments in regions where demand and operational needs warrant them.
- Who
- Indian logistics providers and the e-commerce brands and sellers they serve.
- What
- Logistics providers are raising prices or considering festive-season surcharges as operating costs rise.
- When
- Emiza revised prices over the past few months; Blue Dart’s announced increase takes effect on 1 January 2027.
- Where
- India.
- Why
- Labour, warehousing and last-mile delivery costs are rising. Providers also cited workforce shortages and higher operating requirements.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Shiprocket went public.
Shiprocket was trading near ₹134, compared with its IPO price of ₹97.
Blue Dart’s announced 9-12% domestic price increase is due to take effect.
- Blue Dart
- Announced a 9-12% increase across its domestic portfolio from 1 January 2027
- Emiza
- Revised prices by 10-15% over the past few months
- Zippee
- Order volumes across its network grew 4.5 times during the festive period
- Logistics share of costs
- Often 10-20% of e-commerce businesses’ total expenses
- Shiprocket
- Trading near ₹134 on 12 October, compared with its IPO price of ₹97
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What people are saying
To maintain service continuity, we relied on additional overtime and local workforce deployment, which increased operating costs. Around the same time, statutory wage revisions in states such as Haryana also increased costs. These changes are being transparently communicated to our customers.
With brands also competing on discounts, customer acquisition and delivery speed, there is limited room to absorb repeated cost increases.