Trade Winds Blow Cold: US Industry Postpones India’s Hyperscale Data Plans

Updated: November 02, 2025 13:13

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Major US technology firms like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are postponing commitments to lease large-scale hyperscale data centres in India due to escalating trade frictions between New Delhi and Washington. While India’s data centre sector remains bullish, short-term uncertainties have slowed deal closures, pending geopolitical clarity.

The rapid growth trajectory of India’s data centre industry has hit a temporary hurdle as leading US tech giants—including Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud—pause signing new hyperscale data centre leases. This reticence is largely triggered by deteriorating India-US trade relations, which have complicated investment and operational planning.

Key Highlights:

Deal Freeze Amid Trade Tensions: New data centre leasing agreements in India have been stalled for over two months amid uncertainty about tariffs and visa regulations escalating between the two nations.
Hyperscale Demand Strong but Cautious: Hyperscalers currently make up around 30% of India’s data centre demand, with projections to rise to 35% by 2030. Yet, deals are progressing cautiously with legal clauses addressing tariff pass-throughs and phased capacity additions becoming standard.
Impact of Tariffs & Visa Fees: US-imposed tariffs on Indian exports, including a recent hike from 25% to 50%, along with increased H-1B visa fees, have unsettled supply chains and made the cost of equipment and skilled labor harder to forecast.
Market Growth Outlook Remains Positive: Despite delays, India’s hyperscale data centre capacity is expected to nearly triple by 2030, fueled by booming cloud adoption, e-commerce, and AI workloads.
Industry Reassessments: Companies are reassessing their leasing strategies and may revisit commitments within the next 3-6 months as trade relations potentially improve.
Legal & Operational Adaptations: Increased legal scrutiny and contractual safeguards around global supply shocks are now typical in negotiations.

While the short term sees a slowdown, experts say the fundamental attractiveness of India’s data centre market remains intact. The sector’s long-term growth story continues, with expansions poised to accelerate once geopolitical uncertainties abate.

Sources: Business Standard, CNBC, Economic Times, Mint, Varindia

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