Commenting on the recent news of European Union’s Food Regulatory Authority citing cancer causing chemicals in Indian food products and spices, Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The EU’s food authorities’ adverse disclosures regarding two of our exported brands, are likely to have its cascading effects in rest of the world too since such negative reports spread at a lightening pace. In my opinion, the exports of spices from India would definitely be affected in view of apprehensions among the importing countries since any suspicion about consumables are taken very seriously by every country. Now it’s incumbent upon the Indian food safety department to carry out stringent checks on the brands and declare regarding these being safe after taking corrective actions if warranted. However, the latest reports suggest no effect on spice exports from India.

Logicsols can now integrate BlueBox Systems’ tracking data into its own platform and offer its customers accurate data. BlueBox Systems, one of the leading developers of intelligent air freight tracking solutions, has gained a new customer for its air freight tracking programming interface: Logicsols. The platform of the digital logistics solution provider from New York, USA, allows its customers to manage their entire logistics operations, including features like shipment visibility, data analysis, and document legalization. Logicsols can now integrate BlueBox Systems’ tracking data into its own platform and offers its customers even more accurate data. “Logicsols is one of many companies like Siemens Digital Solutions, 4Flow, Thinkprime, Klog or Otonomi, who are already successfully using the API solution of BlueBox Systems and offer their customers unrivaled data quality,” reads the release. Due to the API solution, the applications of BlueBox Systems and Logicsols can communicate independently and exchange data in real-time. This enables customers to gain important information about ETA changes or delays. Carriers gain access to real-time shipment data to optimize routes, reduce costs and allocate resources efficiently. Manufacturers can get up-to-date shipment tracking information to plan production and proactively manage inventory. All parties along the supply chain can retrieve the most up-to-date and efficiently accurate information. At the same time, the API solution ensures end-to-end data security by providing controlled data access allowing only authorized parties to access and use shared information, safeguarding sensitive cargo details and maintaining the supply chain integrity. “Our robust API allows for swift and straightforward integration, empowering business with real-time air and ocean freight visibility,” says Martin Schulze, CEO of BlueBox Systems. “We provide a user-friendly and efficient API integration that ensures a …

Tata Motors inaugurated a new commercial vehicle spare parts warehouse in Guwahati. The modern facility is fully digitalised and spans across 1 lakh square feet, stocking spare parts for the entire commercial vehicle portfolio. The addition of the new facility will enable the company faster turnaround times and easier availability of spares at Tata Authorised Service Stations in the North East, the company said in a media release. Equipped with world-class infrastructure and safety measures, the facility will unlock greater customer value proposition through digitalised warehouse processes. Tata Motors has partnered with Delhivery, India’s largest fully integrated logistics services provider, to leverage its technology-enabled warehousing and transportation solutions. The facility also boasts cutting-edge storage systems catering to diverse needs, including gravity spiral and vertical reciprocating conveyors. Additionally, a designated area for handling medium and heavy vehicle body parts has been integrated to ensure seamless operations.

Horizon Industrial Parks, a logistics platform owned and operated by real estate conglomerate Blackstone, will invest Rs 1,000 crore for setting up a industrial and warehousing logistics park in Chakan. The facility is spread over 100 acre and will provide logistical solutions to e-commerce and industrial firms in the area. The investment is expected to generate up to 4,000 jobs, a company spokesperson said. This is the company’s second park in Chakan as the company recently completed 52 acre unit in the area. It also operates a 10 lakh sq ft facility in Talegaon. At the state level, the company has parks in Nashik, Nagpur and other in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). The company is targets to develop 10 crore sq ft in logistics facilities in the next three years with focus on tier-2 cities. “We continue to see strong demand for modern warehouses in India, driven by increasing e-commerce adoption and strong industrial growth,” Urvish Rambhia, principal at Blackstone said.

Airbus reported a nine percent increase in consolidated revenues at €12.8 billion for the first quarter of 2024 on higher deliveries. A total of 142 commercial aircraft were delivered compared to 127 aircraft in Q1 2023, an increase of 12 percent, says an official release. The deliveries included 12 A220s, 116 A320 Family, seven A330s and seven A350s. Revenues generated by Airbus’ commercial aircraft activities increased 13 percent to €9.2 billion. Consolidated adjusted EBIT declined 25 percent to €577 million (Q12023: €773 million) “due to the increased Airbus Employee Share Ownership Plan, which saw record participation among employees and resulted in a year-on-year expense increase of slightly above €0.1 billion.” Net income was up 28 percent to €595 million. Gross commercial aircraft orders totalled 170 (Q12023: 156 aircraft) with the same number of net orders due to no cancellations (Q12023 net orders: 142 aircraft). The order backlog amounted to 8,626 commercial aircraft at the end of March 2024, the release added.

In a significant development in the Indian aviation industry, IndiGo, India’s largest airline by market share, has placed an order for 30 Airbus A350 wide-body aircraft. These aircraft are the Airbus A350-900 variant. IndiGo’s A350 fleet will be powered by the Rolls Royce Trent XWB engine, as the company has also made agreements with Rolls Royce for 60 Trent XWB engines. In addition to the 30 Firm A350-900 order, IndiGo has Purchase Rights for an additional 70 Airbus A350 Family aircraft, based on its choice, according to the official release by the airline. After placing the order for the A350 aircraft, IndiGo has now become the second operator of the Airbus A350 in the Indian market, following the national flag carrier Air India. Last year, Air India initially ordered 34 Airbus A350-1000 variants and 6 Airbus A350-900 variants. However, the airline later adjusted its order, evenly distributing the number of orders between the A350 variants. Consequently, the flag carrier now has 20 Airbus A350-900 and 20 Airbus A350-1000 aircraft on order. Out of the 20 Airbus A350-900 aircraft, 4 have already been delivered.

In a stellar display of innovation and skill, Softlink Global’s LogiTHON 2024 brought together the brightest young minds in the logistics and technology space, facilitating an interaction with cutting-edge logistics technologies under the mentorship of seasoned industry experts. Over 1500 students from more than 250 colleges registered for the event, showcasing the growing interest and commitment to propelling the logistics industry forward. LogiTHON served as a competitive arena for 560+ teams, which were meticulously whittled down to 47 top teams for the final showdown on April 19-20. The challenges were carefully designed to test and enhance the participants’ skills in key areas critical to the logistics industry: developing intelligent warehouse management systems, optimizing routes for global trade, and leveraging artificial intelligence for efficient data conversion and analysis. These are not just academic exercises but are aimed at solving some of the long-standing problems faced by the logistics sector, which is the backbone of our economy. Motivating Talent Through Prizes and Mentorship The grand event concluded with 4 winning teams, each receiving a cash prize of 1 Lakh rupees. The 4 runner-up teams were also awarded 50,000 rupees each, acknowledging their exceptional talent and potential. Moreover, participants received guidance from mentors who are well-established in their logistics career paths, ensuring that students’ learning and development continued beyond the competition. Mr. Pratapsinh Kakasaheb Desai, President, Indian Society for Technical Education (ISTE), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest, lauding Softlink’s efforts and on-ground execution. The jury panel composed of industry veterans and academic leaders in Mr. Shankar P. Shinde, Dr. Pramod Sant, Dr. Joshua Ebenezer, Mr. T.N Seetharaman, Mr. Hrushikesh Joshi and Mr. Amit Maheshwari. The combined expertise of these industry luminaries, …

SGL Group ApS yesterday announced that the company has signed an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares in Foppiani Shipping & Logistics, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Scan Global Logistics A/S. The transaction is subject to anti-trust approval from Italian authorities, and closing is expected during Q2 2024. Foppiani Shipping & Logistics is an Italian freight forwarder headquartered in Prato, specialising in air and ocean freight services for fashion, furniture, high-end Italian products and automotive sectors. Foppiani Shipping & Logistics generates yearly revenue of EUR 115m. The acquisition of Foppiani Shipping & Logistics provides SGL Group with an operational platform in Italy which enables SGL Group to establish its strategic presence in Italy and gives SGL Group a strategic platform to scale the business and expand its global presence to the benefit of customers. Most importantly, Foppiani Shipping & Logistics will bring additional human capital with comprehensive industry knowledge and niche experience; people with a perfect match to SGL Group’s DNA and culture.

Exploring the potential of AEO benefits, to leverage technology and industrial collaboration, The Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) President C K Govil and Vice President Samir J Shah participated in FIATA HQ meeting in Geneva. ACAAI will now host FIATA RAP Meeting in India in 2025, said its official LinkedIn Post. The FIATA HQ Meeting 2024 provided a platform for industry leaders to converge and chart the course for the future of air cargo. “Our deliberations delved into the intricacies of enhancing security measures while facilitating smoother trade processes, a balance crucial for the efficiency of global supply chains,” shared Shah. “Exploring the potential of AEO benefits and PLACI, we sought to leverage technology and collaboration to streamline customs procedures and mitigate risks in the air cargo ecosystem. These initiatives not only ensure compliance with regulatory requirements but also foster greater transparency and accountability across the supply chain. The insights gained from our discussions at FIATA HQ Meeting 2024 will undoubtedly shape the future of air cargo operations, paving the way for greater efficiency, security, and reliability in global trade.”

Qatar Airways Cargo has opened the world’s largest air cargo animal facility at its Doha hub to meet the rising volumes of animals being transported through the airport. The new facility measures 5,260 sq m compared with 4,000 sq m at the previous animal operation. It offers 140 dog kennels, 40 cat kennels, 24 horse stables in four separate zones and special areas for day-old chicks, birds, fish, reptiles and exotic animals. It differs from most airport animal facilities in that it mainly caters for transit shipments and therefore has dedicated rooms for transit and import/export shipments, which have different customs formalities to complete. The facility also has a large area to handle cattle with pens for vets to examine sheep if required. The cattle area is air conditioned so cattle charters can be transported during the day, rather than just in the evening as with the previous facility. There are also airside and landside docks for trucks and dollies, the capacity for the induction of 47 ULDs simultaneously, five ULD rooms for built pallets and one room for pallet build and break. The animal areas are temperature controlled and in certain rooms music is piped in to help calm the animals during their time in the facility. There are also rooms that can be used flexibly during times of high demand – for instance during the peak falcon season when more than 200 of the birds can be handled in a single day. Vets work at the facility 24 hours a day to help ensure the animals’ well being.