Messe Muenchen India has acquired the India International Cargo Show (IICS) from Upstream Business Solutions LLP, bringing the event into its established logistics trade-fair portfolio alongside transport logistic India, air cargo India and project cargo India.
The acquisition marks a new phase for IICS, with Messe Muenchen India and Upstream Business Solutions set to work together on the development of future editions while maintaining the event’s established industry focus and relationships.
The 2025 edition of IICS attracted more than 25,000 trade visitors from over 80 countries and featured more than 200 exhibiting brands across more than 15,000 square metres of exhibition space, according to Messe München.
Over the past four years, IICS has developed as a multimodal platform serving freight forwarders, airlines, shipping lines, ports, terminals, warehousing and cold-chain operators, express logistics providers, cargo handlers and logistics technology companies.
Expanding India’s Logistics Trade-Fair Portfolio
The acquisition adds IICS to Messe Muenchen India’s existing logistics portfolio, creating a broader event network spanning different segments of the cargo and supply-chain industry.
The portfolio includes transport logistic India and air cargo India, while project cargo India is scheduled to debut in Mumbai in February 2027. Each event will retain its own sector focus while operating within a coordinated logistics portfolio.
Bhupinder Singh, President IMEA, Messe München and CEO of Messe Muenchen India, said the acquisition would allow the organisation to provide customers with access to a wider part of the logistics value chain while maintaining the specific focus of each event.
“Every event will continue to address the specific business priorities and communities it was created to serve,” Singh said.
The expanded portfolio is also intended to connect cargo and logistics businesses across air, sea, road and rail, covering areas including cargo movement, handling, storage and supply-chain management.
Acquisition Comes As India’s Trade Volumes Grow
The move comes as India’s international trade continues to expand, increasing demand for freight, cargo and logistics infrastructure.
According to figures cited by the organisers from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry, merchandise exports reached $441.78 billion in financial year 2025–26, while imports stood at $774.98 billion. Combined merchandise trade therefore exceeded $1.2 trillion during the year.
Stefan Rummel, CEO of Messe München, said the acquisition reflected the organisation’s long-term commitment to India and its role in global trade and logistics.
“By combining IICS’s strong local reach in freight forwarding and multimodal cargo with the international transport logistic network, we are building a connected platform that delivers lasting value for customers, partners and the industry,” Rummel said.
The broader transport logistic network includes events in China, India, Kenya, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Türkiye and the United States, in addition to the flagship event in Munich.
IICS Mumbai 2026 To Proceed As Scheduled
The acquisition will not affect the scheduled Mumbai edition of IICS 2026.
The event will take place from December 2–4, 2026, at the Jio World Convention Centre in Bandra Kurla Complex, Mumbai. The official IICS website continues to list the Mumbai edition at the venue and dates, with more than 200 exhibiting brands and more than 25,000 expected trade visitors.
Upstream Business Solutions founder and CEO Mohit Mewani said the event would retain the industry relationships and commitments that have supported its development.
He added that the partnership would give IICS participants access to Messe München’s international network, sector expertise and resources, potentially providing exhibitors with broader market connections in India and internationally.
Messe Muenchen India and Upstream Business Solutions will continue to collaborate on the development of IICS as it enters its next stage.
The acquisition also strengthens Messe München’s presence across India’s multimodal logistics sector, with transport logistic India, air cargo India, IICS and the forthcoming project cargo India providing distinct platforms within a wider industry ecosystem.
