Shyplite, a 4PL AI-powered logistics platform that enables businesses to automate their logistics and increase shipping efficiency by providing a single-window platform integrated with multiple carriers, has launched Shypmax which is India’s first and only Cross border LPaaS (Logistics Platform as a service) which also has asset light carrier capabilities and an Asset Light Supply Chain Solution, backed by a contemporary product and stellar service. Shypmax is now live for deliveries to 40 + countries and will be covering delivery to 220 Countries progressively with over 70 Carrier and network partnerships in place globally. Shypmax is also one of the first IOSS ready service in India, with focus on compliance for new regulations in the European Union (EU).

Stellar Value Chain Solutions, one of the largest tech-driven consumer supply chain companies in India, will invest Rs.200 crore to boost its e-grocery supply chain offerings in FY21-22. The investment will help the company to set up 25 fulfilment and sort centres across the country in the current financial year to strengthen its e-commerce supply chain network. Apart from setting up fulfilment and sort centres, Stellar Value Chain Solutions will invest in technology integration as well to enhance operational efficiency. The company will also infuse money into rolling out a fleet of electric vehicles (EV) to develop an EV-based transportation network to facilitate the e-grocery delivery. Anshuman Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, Stellar Value Chain Solutions Pvt. Ltd. said, “Changed buying pattern of consumers and a sense of convenience has made e-grocery one of the attractive and highly competitive e-commerce segments. Our enhanced e-grocery supply chain will help companies develop a strong delivery backbone.”

Pluss Advanced Technologies (PLUSS) will supply its Celsure® COVID SURAKSHA box to Dr Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd, for optimal temperature-controlled transport and storage for the Sputnik V vaccine, in India. PLUSS’ patented Celsure® box with “Phase Change Material (PCM)” technology will control and maintain the temperature, currently -18 degree centigrade (-18C), required to ensure the efficacy of the Sputnik V vaccine. The partnership entails turn key engagement with PLUSS for Celsure® packaging. In this effort, PLUSS provides pre-conditioned Celsure® box right at Dr. Reddy’s warehouse to be readily used for Sputnik V packing. A separate specialized conditioning centre has been set up locally in Hyderabad with a fleet of “Rapid PCM Recharging Stations” and mechanisms built for “Track and Trace”. This model meets highest standard of cold-chain supply management and is highly scalable to meet country’s demand of vaccine doses in a short period of time. The Celsure® COVID SURAKSHA box can maintain inside-temperature passively, without electricity, at desired levels for more than 100 hours and serve as an energy efficient and safer alternative to refrigerated containers, conventional ice-packs or even dry ice, which are considered hazardous, unsustainable and unsafe for carrying in airlines.

Lessor BBAM has signed up for more B737-800 freighter conversions from Boeing as it looks to capitalise on the strong express and e-commerce markets. The company announced the order of a further 12 B737-800 Boeing Converted Freighters, bringing its total orders and commitments for the aircraft to 31. The deal also represents the first time that Costa Rica-based MRO COOPESA will convert the model on behalf of Boeing. “The Boeing Converted Freighter programme is extending the life and enhancing the value of the 737-800s in our fleet,” said Steve Zissis, president and chief executive of BBAM. “We are growing our Boeing order book to meet the strong demand we see worldwide for narrowbody freighters, and we are proud to be the launch customer for the conversion lines at COOPESA.”

Supply chain firm Geodis is set to expand its presence in the pharma market with the acquisition of temperature-controlled logistics business Gandon Transports. Geodis said Gandon Transports, which specialises in the transport of pharma products at controlled temperatures of 2°C to 8°C and 15°C to 25°C, has an extensive network of warehouse and trucking services that will strengthen its capacity to distribute to pharmacies, hospitals and wholesalers throughout France. Marie-Christine Lombard, chief executive at Geodis, committed: “This acquisition will consolidate Geodis’ status as a key player in the healthcare market. From inventory planning to temperature-controlled storage and transport to the final recipient, we want to offer our customers a complete and reliable solution throughout the supply chain.”

Cargo handled at India’s dozen state-owned major ports soared 27.16 per cent during the April-June quarter to 180.609 million tonnes (mt) from 142.033 mt a year ago. The rebound in cargo volumes during the first quarter of the current fiscal was led by solid growths in containers, iron ore and pellets, thermal and steam coal, as well as coking coal, according to the Pinistry of ports, Shipping and Waterways. The 12 major ports handled a combined 2.753 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs), 57.86 per cent more than the 1.744 million TEUs handled during the first quarter of FY21. Of this, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), India’s busiest state-run container gateway, handled 1.364 million TEUs from 848,000 TEUs during the same period last year.

Economic activity in the logistics industry has seen an upsurge recently due to a strong consumer demand that continues to put pressure on warehousing and transportation networks. In June, the Logistics Managers’ Index (LMI) reached the second-highest level in the history of the last five-year index and was registered at 75, showing a growth of 4%. According to the LMI researchers, the quarterly three-month moving average also reached a record level this spring, indicating second-quarter growth as the fastest in the history of the index. While the inventory levels and costs continue to exempt growth in June and rose 9 points and more than 5 points, respectively. The warehousing and transportation capacity continued to contract, registering 40.7 and 34.5 respectively. “The combined lack of capacity makes it difficult to meet consumer expectations. The mismatch between supply and demand has driven logistics costs up, despite the fact that inventory is flowing quickly,” according to the report.

Air cargo demand returned to growth in June following a drop in May as a result of public holidays. The latest statistics from CLIVE Data Services show that air cargo demand in June increased by 1% compared with the same month in 2019 (used for comparison due to impact of Covid) after declining by 4% in May. Niall van de Wouw, managing director of CLIVE Data Services, said: “June’s performance data was relatively strong and seems to confirm that May’s decline was a one-off, as we anticipated, impacted by the public holidays during that month. The global air cargo market now seems to be back on track, reflecting what The Economist has described as the ‘long goodbye’ to Covid’s impact on our everyday lives”. “In June, we once again saw no signs of recovery in capacity. It is abundantly clear that airlines are micromanaging their flights because the pressure is everywhere and, in the case of cargo-only services by passenger airlines, the capacity out there is expensive to operate.

Etihad Cargo, the cargo and logistics arm of Abu Dhabi’s Etihad Aviation Group, and CargoAi, the SaaS application which provides air cargo digital solutions, have partnered to elevate the carrier’s API accessibility for freight forwarders as part of its digitalisation strategy. During the past few years, Etihad Cargo has accelerated its development of technology advancements which have provided simplified customer experiences through a number of partnerships. This has culminated in the launch of its brand new digital platform, etihadcargo.com. Their latest collaboration with CargoAi will further enhance this through the provision of brand-new API accessibility for freight forwarders the world over. “Digitalisation has been at the core of Etihad Cargo’s strategy over the last three to five years, and continues to be a focus in driving digitalisation and streamlining processes across the air freight world. Our partnership with CargoAi supports this vision, and provides an additional tool which delivers a rapid and fluid digital booking services platform,” explained Martin Drew, Senior Vice President Sales & Cargo, Etihad Aviation Group.

Delmos Aviation, a part of Sentro Group continues to ramp up its air cargo network in CIS Nations with the launch of its first smaller capacity aircraft cargo charter flight between India & Uzbekistan. The first flight took place on July 7th on DEL– TAS route on A 320 PTC smaller capacity aircraft to deliver essential medical equipment and pharmaceuticals products from India to the region. The cargo charter flights can also carry cross-border e-commerce products such as apparel and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG). Delmos Aviation focuses on improving regular cargo operations between India & Uzbekistan and other CIS Nations, as India is the primary exporter of essential pharma supplies to the region. We are so excited to launch regular cargo charter services and are happy to provide an enhanced and streamlined cargo charter experience across the entire network. The charter flight on 7th July is a pilot flight project. It has been a milestone for all.” said Dr Naveen Rao, Group Chairman.