What Sattva does

Sattva, operating through Sattva Engineering Construction Limited, is a Chennai-headquartered, privately held Indian logistics conglomerate founded in 1996 that operates Container Freight Stations (CFS), Inland Container Depots (ICD), logistics parks, container rail terminals, and a 500-vehicle transportation fleet across seven facilities in South India spanning Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry. The core business is customs-bonded cargo handling and EXIM logistics - storage, consolidation, deconsolidation, customs processing, and multi-modal road-rail transportation - with the Arakkonam ICD holding the only private-sector rail-connected inland container terminal designation in South India, notified by Indian Railways. The technology layer is a web-enabled RFID container tracing platform integrated with third-party software (TRANSECURE, SNAP SECURE, Logistics Data Bank) for real-time visibility and digital freight documentation, supplemented by in-house solar power (up to 50 kW) and hybrid equipment under a self-described "ecologistics" positioning.

Revenue is generated primarily through transaction-based fees on cargo handling, storage, warehousing, and freight across CFS, ICD, and logistics park operations, with an additional managed-services layer through 4PL logistics that assembles third-party truckers, forwarders, and customs house agents. The company serves four primary verticals - industrial, automotive, consumer/retail, and technology - via direct enterprise sales, reporting 110+ active clients and approximately 1 million sq.ft of warehousing. Allied non-logistics revenue streams include IT services (software export, IT security, and business automation through subsidiaries Sri Sattva Open Systems and Zelos Technologies, a 100% EOU under STPI) and agro-processing (cashew kernels through SATTVA Agro Expo, in partnership with Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation under the Cashew Agri Export Zone scheme). The business is promoter-controlled by the Santhanam family, led by Chairman and Managing Director S. Santhanam with over five decades of industry experience, and the group has not pursued external capital beyond two Eredene Capital PLC rounds in 2007-2008.

Name

Sattva

Legal name

Sattva Engineering Construction Limited

Website

https://sattva.in

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Sattva is a Chennai-headquartered Indian logistics conglomerate operating Container Freight Stations, Inland Container Depots, logistics parks, and a 500-vehicle fleet across seven South India facilities, serving 110+ industrial, automotive, consumer, and technology clients. It also runs allied IT services and cashew agro-processing businesses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Logistics Services (CFS / ICD / 4PL / Warehousing)

NAICS

Support Activities for Transportation (488), Freight Transportation Arrangement (488510), Support Activities for Rail Transportation (488210), Warehousing and Storage (493)

SIC

Trucking & Courier Services (No Air) (4210), Terminal Maintenance Facilities For Motor Freight Transport (4231), Arrangement Of Transportation Of Freight & Cargo (4731)

akta.pro primary industry

Dispatch, Fleet & Transportation Operations (Road/Rail) (EDAOANAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sanctions, Embargo & Export Controls (EAR/ITAR) Compliance Tools (TLAEAOAI)

Keywords

• Container freight station services
• Inland container depot operations
• Fourth-party logistics management
• Bonded warehousing services
• Multi-modal freight transportation

Headquarters

HQ city

Chennai

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Container Freight Station (CFS) Services: CFS operations providing storage, consolidation, and transportation of import and export cargo with bonded warehousing facilities. Revenue generated through handling charges, storage fees, and related logistics services.
2. Inland Container Depot (ICD) Services: ICD operations for transhipment of cargo from gateway ports to inland destinations through road and rail. Revenue from handling, storage, and rail terminal operations.
3. 4PL Logistics Services: Comprehensive supply chain solutions assembling resources from multiple 3PL providers. Revenue from logistics management fees and service charges.
4. Logistics Park Operations: Multi-modal logistics facilities with warehousing, cold storage and transportation services at industrial belts.
5. Transportation Services: Fleet of over 500 trailers and trucks providing transportation services. Revenue from freight charges.
6. Agro Processing - Cashew: Cashew processing and packaging facility with capacity to produce around 12,000 tonnes/annum. Revenue from cashew kernel sales.
7. IT Services: Software export, IT services, business automation, infrastructure installation, and IT security services through Sri Sattva Open Systems.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Sattva provides end-to-end EXIM logistics and multi-modal supply chain solutions through a network of owned Container Freight Stations (CFS), Inland Container Depots (ICD), Container Rail Terminals, bonded and export warehouses, logistics parks, and a 500+ truck/trailer fleet. Services span import/export cargo consolidation, customs processing at notified facilities, storage, and multi-modal (road-rail) transport for industrial, automotive, consumer/retail, and technology exporters and importers across India. Allied businesses include IT services (software export, automation, IT security) and cashew agro-processing.

Product overview

Sattva operates as a diversified logistics company offering an integrated network of logistics services and allied offerings. The core logistics portfolio centers on Container Freight Stations (CFS) at Manali, Vichoor, Ambur, and Visakhapatnam; Inland Container Depots (ICD) at Arakkonam, Pondicherry, and Bengaluru; 4PL Logistics services; Container Rail Terminals; Export Warehousing; Public Bonded Warehousing; and Logistics Parks at Gummidipoondi, Pondicherry, and Bengaluru. Allied services include IT Services (software export, IT security) and Agro Processing (cashew processing through SATTVA Agro Expo). The company also maintains corporate offices in Chennai with operations spanning construction and agro services divisions.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Sri Sattva Open Systems: IT Services division offering Software Export, Information Services, Business Automation, Infrastructure Installation, and IT Security Services
• SATTVA Agro Expo Pvt. Ltd.

Products and services

• Container Freight Stations (CFS) Customs-notified Container Freight Stations offering storage, consolidation, and transportation of import and export cargo with bonded warehousing facilities on premises. Locations: Manali, Vichoor, Ambur, and Visakhapatnam. Target buyers: manufacturers, exporters, importers, shipping lines, customs house agents.
• Inland Container Depots (ICD) Inland Container Depots providing bill-of-entry processing, customs examination, and duty payment for containers arriving from gateway ports, with transhipment via road and rail. Locations: Arakkonam (rail-connected), Pondicherry, and Bengaluru. Target buyers: importers, exporters, and inland-destined EXIM shippers.
• 4PL Logistics Fourth-party logistics service that designs, builds, and runs comprehensive supply chain solutions by assembling resources, capabilities, and technology from Sattva and 3PL providers including truckers, forwarders, and customs house agents. Target buyers: enterprise manufacturers seeking outsourced end-to-end logistics management.
• Container Rail Terminal Open-access container rail terminals enabling pan-India private cargo train operators to store and transport goods across the country; available at SICAL SATTVA ICD Arakkonam and Bayyavaram (Visakhapatnam) rail siding. Target buyers: rail freight operators and high-volume EXIM shippers.
• Logistics Parks Multi-modal logistics facilities in industrial belts providing state-of-the-art warehousing, cold storage, reefer container handling, and transportation services to support manufacturing clusters. Locations: Gummidipoondi, Pondicherry, and Bengaluru. Target buyers: manufacturing clusters, FMCG, retail, and industrial tenants.
• Export Warehousing Shared and dedicated warehousing spaces with in-house customs processing and state-of-the-art warehouse machinery for export cargo. Target buyers: exporters needing dedicated or shared near-port warehousing with on-site customs support.
• Public Bonded Warehousing Bonded warehousing facilities (notified under customs) allowing importers to avoid additional transport and handling charges and enable piecemeal cargo clearance. Target buyers: importers needing compliant customs-bonded storage at or near ports.
• Transportation Services Fleet of over 500 owned and contracted trailers and trucks providing road transportation services with best practices for speedy, cost-efficient, and fuel-efficient movement. Target buyers: manufacturers, exporters, and importers needing inland container haulage.
• IT Services IT services including software export, information services, business automation, infrastructure installation, and IT security services, offered through subsidiaries Sri Sattva Open Systems and Zelos Technologies (India) Pvt Ltd. Target buyers: enterprise customers requiring software, automation, and IT security solutions.
• Agro Processing (Cashew) Cashew processing, packaging, and marketing operations under SATTVA Agro Expo Pvt Ltd, including the Cashew Agri Export Zone with TIDCO partnership and an HACCP-certified processing facility. Target buyers: domestic and export cashew-kernel buyers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduce carbon footprint through multi-modal road-rail integration
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• HP (Hewlett-Packard)coreTechnology or IntegrationHP is a major strategic partner for IT services. Sattva is a service provider for HP and established an exclusive HP retail store in Adyar showcasing entire IT solutions. The store includes a Special Experience Zone.
• IBMcoreTechnology or IntegrationIBM is listed among strategic technology partners. Sattva has forged strategic alliances in client/server computing and IT services provision.
• MicrosoftcoreTechnology or IntegrationMicrosoft is listed as a strategic partner in Sattva's IT division with capabilities in software export and business automation.
• AcercoreTechnology or IntegrationAcer is a service provider partner for IT products. Sattva established exclusive Acer retail presence in Chennai region.
• TIDCO (Tamil Nadu Industrial Development Corporation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSattva partnered with TIDCO for establishment of Cashew Agri Export Zone (AEZ) in five contiguous cashew producing districts of Tamil Nadu. TIDCO is a government industrial development corporation providing strategic partnership for agro-processing initiatives worth Rs. 14.99 Crores.
• APL (American President Lines)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSattva established Road-Rail Project in collaboration with APL to move goods across the country efficiently, integrating different modes of transport for multi-modal logistics solutions.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Snowman Logistics: Indian temperature-controlled warehousing and cold chain logistics operator. Comparable in the cold storage/reefer container handling capability Sattva offers at Pondicherry, serving similar consumer and retail segments.

Broad incumbents

• Mahindra Logistics: Large Indian 3PL/4PL provider serving automotive, consumer and industrial sectors with warehousing, transportation and supply chain management. Comparable to Sattva's 4PL and warehousing offerings, particularly in automotive and consumer segments.
• DHL Supply Chain India: Global 3PL/4PL leader with significant India operations across warehousing, transportation and supply chain management. Comparable to Sattva in enterprise B2B logistics services, with substantially larger global capability and customer base.
• DP World (India/Subcontinent): Global port operator with significant CFS and inland container operations in India including South India. Overlaps directly with Sattva on container freight station services, customs handling and bonded warehousing, with substantially larger balance sheet.
• Adani Logistics: Part of Adani Group operating logistics parks, warehousing and rail-linked terminals across India. Directly comparable to Sattva's logistics parks and rail-linked ICD business, with broader infrastructure footprint and deeper capital access.
• Transport Corporation of India (TCI): Diversified Indian logistics player offering freight, warehousing and supply chain solutions including EXIM logistics and customs handling. Comparable to Sattva's integrated multi-modal and 4PL offerings with similar B2B enterprise customer base.

Direct peers

• Allcargo Logistics: One of India's largest CFS, ICD and multi-modal logistics operators with pan-India container freight station presence. Directly comparable to Sattva in CFS/ICD service offering, EXIM handling and integrated supply chain solutions for B2B clients.
• Container Corporation of India (Concor): Government-owned rail-linked ICD operator running the largest inland container depot network in India. Direct peer on the rail-linked ICD business model that Sattva's SICAL SATTVA ICD at Arakkonam competes with and complements.
• Central Warehousing Corporation (CWC): Government of India undertaking operating public bonded warehouses and CFS/ICD facilities across India. Direct peer in bonded warehousing and customs-bonded storage services competing with Sattva's public bonded warehouse offering.
• LCL Logistix: India-focused CFS, ICD and container logistics operator with similar scale and South India presence. Directly competes with Sattva on container freight station services, bonded warehousing and EXIM logistics for enterprise clients.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sattva-agro-expo-private-limited

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sattva