Inditex expands air freight use to beat delays

Inditex, the company that owns Zara, has significantly expanded its use of air freight to transport clothing from Indian factories to its logistics centre in Spain, according to trade data, industry experts and investors. Following the disruption in international maritime lanes due to insecurity in the Red Sea, apparel retailers and exporters in general have boosted their use of air freight. In the 12 months ending in August this year, Inditex shipped 3,865 consignments from India by air, a 37% rise over the previous year, according to an examination of shipment data from trade data company Import Genius. Since January 1, when attacks on container ships in the Red Sea escalated, 3,352 of the consignments were sent. In the first eight months of this year, air freight accounted for 70% of Inditex’s exports from India, as per a report.