EFL 3PL, a subsidiary of EFL Global announced the launch of its flagship Grade A warehousing facility in Bhiwandi region of Mumbai, India. This strategic expansion, with an investment of USD 5Mn, marks a significant milestone in EFL 3PL’s commitment to enhancing its presence in India and solidifying its position as a leader in End-to-End logistics solutions and supply chain management. With over 25 years of experience in the Indian market, EFL has established itself as a trusted provider of freight logistics services. The addition of the state-of-the-art warehouse facility further strengthens both EFL & EFL 3PL’s capabilities, offering truly end-to-end services to their diverse clientele across various sectors. Spanning an impressive 175,000 square feet, the Grade A warehouse features modern facilities and advanced logistics technologies. EFL 3PL’s holistic approach to logistics solutions, infused with latest technology and innovation, ensures the dynamic requirements of clients are met efficiently and effectively. Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Rooso Ramachandran, CEO of EFL India said “We are delighted to inaugurate our flagship warehouse in Mumbai. This investment underscores our dedication to delivering exceptional service to our clients and meeting the evolving needs of the Indian market. With the launch of this state-of-the-art facility, we are not only expanding our operational footprint but also reaffirming our commitment to providing innovative and reliable logistics solutions. This warehouse represents the culmination of extensive planning and investment. We are confident that it will play a pivotal role in driving efficiency and value for our customers while assuring a one-stop-shop solution to all their logistics needs. We look forward to further strengthening our presence in India and contributing to the growth and success of our clients.”

Kruti Jobanputra, Director, JW Ventures says, “We put the highest emphasis on the safety and security of cargo. We ensure that our clients’ precious cargo is stored, handled and transport safely and with the highest quality. To ensure this safety, entry into any of our premises will require an appointment and prior notice that has to be given to the security. We track everyone who enters and exits the facility thru the use of a Gate Pass. Every vehicle in and out is checked and is inputted into a register. We 24×7 CCTV surveillance and a 100% power back up for our cold-chain facilities. For the storage of cargo itself, we have ensured that there is only one entry and one exit point so that unauthorized access is limited. The security guards are required to check for ID cards and or some form of authorization that requires a person access. For Fire safety we have an emergency response team at each site and have our own fire tender to ensure that the first responders are able to take action and that we do not have to wait for any third party.”

In a recent report titled ‘Exploring India’s thriving logistics and warehousing landscape’ by JLL, the warehousing sector in India demonstrated remarkable growth in 2023, with a 15% year-on-year increase in total stock of Grade A and B spaces across eight major cities. The cumulative warehousing space reached 371 million sq ft by the end of the year, showing a significant rise from 329 million sq ft in the previous year. Yogesh Shevade, Head of Logistics & Industrial at JLL, noted, “The Indian warehousing sector has been on an exceptional growth trajectory since 2017.” He attributed this growth to a 15% YoY increase in total warehousing stock, reaching 371 million sq ft. The sector experienced a net demand of approximately 40 million square feet in the same period, with 70% of this demand being accounted for by Grade A spaces. Shevade emphasized the shift towards quality facilities to meet the evolving demand for efficient logistics and supply chain solutions.

The Bolloré Group and the CMA CGM Group announce the completion today of the sale of 100 % of Bolloré Logistics to CMA CGM, it being specified that the transfer of Bolloré Logistics Sweden AB to the CMA CGM Group remains subject to the latter obtaining foreign investment clearance in Sweden. The purchase price is 4.850 billion euros, on the basis of the estimated debt and cash on the completion date. As a leading transport and logistics company in France, and one of the main players in the sector worldwide, Bolloré Logistics achieved in 2022 a turnover of 7.1 billion euros, transported 710,000 TEUs of ocean freight and 390,000 tons of air freight, along with a storage capacity of 900,000 m2. This is CMA CGM’s largest acquisition since its creation in 1978 and constitutes a major step in the CMA CGM Group’s logistics development strategy, complementing its historical maritime transport line of business. Mr. Rodolphe Saadé, CEO and Chairman of the CMA CGM Group, declared: “I would like to thank the Bolloré Group for the trustful dialogue we have established over the last few months to successfully finalize this acquisition. Within the CMA CGM Group, we are proud to welcome a French flagship built on years of work and experience. The new entity, made up of CEVA and Bolloré Logistics, is the world’s number 5 in its sector. We will now be able to offer our customers a complete range of services and extend our expertise to new businesses. On behalf of the CMA CGM Group and my family, I would like to welcome the 14,000 employees who are joining us today. Together, we will combine our talents and accelerate …

Ethiopian Airlines inaugurates e-commerce logistics facility, the first of its kind in Africa with an investment of USD 55 million for global operations. The inauguration of this specialized warehouse dedicated solely to e-commerce goods, mail, and courier logistics services, will revolutionize the industry in the African continent and positions Addis Ababa to be the cross-border e-commerce logistics hub for Africa and beyond.

BharatX, a leader in buy now pay later (BNPL) and affordability solutions for merchants, and ClickPost, a pioneer in e-commerce logistics technology, announced a strategic partnership to focus on increasing conversions for merchants selling higher-value goods online, according to the release by Clickpost. “Clickpost and BharatX’s partnership reflects a strategic move to leverage each company’s strengths to improve the e-commerce landscape,” says Prashant Gupta, Co-Founder, ClickPost. “This partnership seeks to improve the online shopping experience, making it more transparent and customer-friendly, leading to higher brand trust amongst online shoppers for retailers.” Mehul Jindal, Co-Founder and CEO, BharatX adds: “In India, consumers don’t trust EMI & credit options from traditional banks & NBFCs but this creates a large problem for merchants who want to sell high value goods. BharatX offers a credit solution for brands to provide instant trust to their users. They can white-label BharatX’s credit platform, similar to how firms like Ola and Amazon have done with Amazon PayLater and Ola Postpaid. ClickPost’s D2C expertise enables access to this option for a broader range of e-commerce merchants.” Apart from Sleep Company, D2C brands like Mokobara and Snitch have been leveraging the benefits of this strategic alliance and driving positive outcomes.

The Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) reported positive early-year traffic figures for January 2024, indicating a promising start with substantial increases in international passenger and cargo traffic, spurred by strong demand preceding the Lunar New Year celebrations. In January, airlines in the region transported a total of 27.0 million international passengers, marking a significant 49.4% growth from the same period last year. This brought traffic volumes to 82.0% of the pre-pandemic levels of 2019. In terms of revenue passenger kilometers (RPK), there was a 48.3% increase in demand year-over-year, showcasing a solid demand for regional travel. The available seat capacity also saw a growth, up by 51.3% compared to last year, even though the international passenger load factor slightly decreased by 1.6 percentage points, settling at an average of 79.9% for the month. Furthermore, the air cargo market continued to expand in January, driven by demand associated with the Lunar New Year festivities. The international air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), experienced a robust 22.5% growth year-over-year, continuing the upward trend observed in the last quarter of 2023. However, the increase in available freight capacity, which went up by 25.8% year-on-year due to the recovery of belly-hold capacities in international passenger flights, caused a 1.6 percentage point decrease in the average international freight load factor to 57.5%. Commenting on the results, Mr. Subhas Menon, AAPA Director General said, “The year started on a positive note for Asia Pacific airlines, as both international air passenger and cargo markets saw robust growth, supported by the timing of the Lunar New Year festive period. Travel demand was boosted by a rise in leisure travellers, while cargo markets benefitted from …

Mahindra Logistics is set to broaden its footprint in West Bengal. As part of this expansion, Mahindra Logistics will commence operations of a 1.1 lakh sq. ft. fulfilment centre in Malda, West Bengal, dedicated to handling fulfilment and last-mile deliveries. This centre is a critical part of Mahindra Logistics’ supply chain network and will execute efficient and timely deliveries through end-to-end fulfilment and distribution capabilities. Additionally, Mahindra Logistics is also adding 14 last-mile delivery stations, touching approximately 15,000 households daily. Tailored for grocery & e-commerce customers, the expansion in the network is the cornerstone of the company’s comprehensive logistics solutions integrating fulfilment, express, as well as mid-mile and last-mile services. As part of the expansion in the Eastern region, the centre is strategically positioned to serve Northern West Bengal, Eastern Bihar, and parts of the Northeast. The facility is a beacon of optimized deliveries with a daily processing capacity of 10,000 orders and an inventory capacity exceeding 15 lakh units; designed to meet and exceed the growing demands of the region. The establishment will generate over 750 job opportunities, including the 350 dedicated personnel for the last-mile network. Mahindra Logistics continues its commitment to diversity, aiming to fill 25% of the fulfilment centre roles with women and individuals from the PwD and LGBTQIA+ communities. Integral to Mahindra Logistics’ vision of expanding its presence across the country, this expansion enhances the company’s warehousing footprint in West Bengal to 3.3 lakh sq. ft. Mahindra Logistics also services full truck load, part truck load and integrated services to nearly 2000 pin codes in the region.

The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA) has launched a platform aimed at finding available training solutions throughout the industry – the Air Cargo Training Library. The Air Cargo Training Library provides a convenient global repository for training courses from many different training providers. The listings will be submitted by members and partner educational institutions that offer training on technology, sustainability, safety and security, management, logistics, live animals, industry knowledge, global trade, dangerous goods and air cargo. “We are very excited to launch this platform as we see that it links directly with our Sustainability Roadmap and continues to drive forward a sustainable future. The platform promotes quality education and decent work that in turn is tied to economic growth. We look forward to watching this library expand.” Steven Polmans, Chair, TIACA. The platform is open access and available to all industry stakeholders that want to view the training courses available. Members have the opportunity to list several training courses free of charge; while non-Members will pay a small fee to list their courses. “Today’s air cargo industry is complex with ever changing customer expectations, regulatory requirements and evolving industry standards. High quality training is a key enabler to keep staff engaged, empowered and motivated to build a great career within the industry. The problem is where to find the training and that is where the Air Cargo Training Library comes in. It is a convenient search tool that lists training for the industry. We invite members and training partners to submit their courses to the portal.” Glyn Hughes, Director General, TIACA.

LogiMAT India 2024, the biggest exhibition focused on intralogistics solutions, Material Handling, Transportation, Supply Chain and Process Management opened in Greater Noida on Feb 28. Organised by Messe Stuttgart India, the three-day event will offer profound insights into the future of logistics innovations, and collaborations to drive the logistics and supply chain industry forward. With over 100 exhibitors and 15,000+ expected visitors, LogiMAT India 2024 presents a comprehensive overview of the latest trends, crucial face-to-face interactions, lead generation, business conversions, and the establishment of long-term partnerships, and best practices shaping the logistics and supply chain industry. From intralogistics solutions and transportation management to warehousing technology and automation, visitors can explore a wide range of exhibitors and gain valuable insights to optimize their operations and stay competitive in the market.