Category Archives: International

The A300 served as the foundation for the Beluga ST jets, which were followed by the Beluga XL, which was built using six A330s. According to sources, the aircraft which was originally used only for the movement of oversized Airbus components like wings, will now be available as five Beluga ST freighters which can be leased by companies to transport their own capacious cargo. Airbus is reviewing plans to contribute all five of its Beluga STs into chartering outsize freight operations by the mid 2020s. This will eventually result in establishing a new Airbus business to manage this part of Beluga’s operation. Multi-purpose pallet system, portable onboard freight loader and newer outboard platforms are just a trailer of the new ideas being implemented by Airbus to support the new role of Beluga STs. The new multi-purpose pallet system requires minimum modifications regardless of the cargo it holds, and is made up of 2 meter modules with 20cm tie-down points. Similarly, the portable onboard freight loader will be used for less than 12 meters long & 20 tonnes in weight payload.

The Federation of Freight Forwarders’ Associations in India (FFFAI) has decided to extend the date for Nomination to ‘FFFAI YIFF Awards’ to February 2, 202. The Award has launched with an objective to promote young Entrepreneurs/Forwarders/Logistics Professionals. FFFAI is inviting applications from the Members of FFFAI Association Members (within the age group between 18 and 32 years as on January 1, 2021) to participate in the ‘FIATA Young International Freight Forwarder of The Year Award’ The award demonstrates recognition by FFFAI, FIATA and its participating sponsors of the need to develop quality in the forwarding industry and to reward young talent with valuable training opportunities. To participate in the nomination process pertaining to the awards, the candidates should have two years full time experience in Freight Forwarding, should submit the dissertation on the topic stipulated by FIATA, and should fulfil the condition stipulated in the registration form. The dissertation is an opportunity for the candidate to demonstrate a range of skills and qualities that are needed to pursue a successful career in international forwarding and supply chain logistics. It would demonstrate the knowledge base of the contestants concerning the following aspects: Identifying a problem or business opportunity; gathering relevant information on a specific situation; identifying possible changes or enhancements for the benefit of the forwarder or the client; evaluating the information and drawing one’s own conclusions; deciding what action should be taken; making reasoned and costed recommendations; quality of innovation and initiative; description and valuation of the situation, discussion of problems, opportunities, faults, relevant issues, benefits, costs, etc. For more details on YOUNG INTERNATIONAL FREIGHT FORWARDER OF THE YEAR AWARD, Please visit https://fiata.org/what-we-do/training/yiffy-award.html The last date for filing nomination of …

Shipping lines repositioned a record 1.85 million containers in the country in 2021 as demand for exports surged and exporters continued to be hurt by an acute shortage of containers, according to lobbying body Container Shipping Lines Association (CSLA). Repositioning of containers is getting an empty container from a port of surplus to one where they are scarce. Shipping lines had to resort to this strategy as container shortage soared across the world as several container ships got stuck in ports amid the pandemic and various restrictions even as merchandise exports from India grew 105% year-on-year to $354 billion in 2021. “Several new services were introduced between India and various trades like the US, Europe, far East, West Africa and Latin America by carriers like MSC, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, CMA CGM, HMM, ZIM, Feedertech and others,” said CSLA official. “These helped in increasing the weekly capacity from Indian origins to these destinations by about 35,000 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent unit, or a 20-foot container) a week,” it said. “Annualised, this works out to an increase in the vessel capacity by about 1.80 million TEUs.”

In response to surging demand for air cargo capacity in the region, GEODIS, a global leading transport and logistics services provider, has significantly expanded its AirDirect own operated network with three more intra-Asia Pacific (APAC) flight routes. With a newly established hub in Kuala Lumpur, the logistics operator will dovetail the air services with its Road Network linking destinations throughout Southeast Asia. The multi-modal expansion builds on its strong momentum in creating diverse transportation options for customizing supply chain solutions for its customers. The expanded flight network, which bridges Hong Kong, Chennai, Sydney, and Shanghai to Kuala Lumpur, can carry an additional 320 tons of cargo weekly. This will significantly ease the strain on the supply chains, which saw load factors and yields reach historic highs in 2021 when cargo capacity struggled to meet the surge in e-commerce transactions. With demand for airfreight forecast to increase, particularly amidst ongoing delays and flight cancellations across Southeast Asia following the impact of the Omicron variant, GEODIS believes its extended AirDirect schedules will become a pivotal component in ensuring seamless, reliable, and efficient air transport services in the region.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets showing that full-year demand for air cargo increased by 6.9% in 2021, compared to 2019 (pre-covid levels) and 18.7% compared to 2020 following a strong performance in December 2021. This was the second biggest improvement in year-on-year demand since IATA started to monitor cargo performance in 1990 (behind 2010’s 20.6% gain), outpacing the 9.8% rise in global goods trade by 8.9 percentage points. “Air cargo had a stellar year in 2021. For many airlines, it provided a vital source of revenue as passenger demand remained in the doldrums due to COVID-19 travel restrictions. Growth opportunities, however, were lost due to the pressures of labor shortages and constraints across the logistics system. Overall, economic conditions do point towards a strong 2022,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General. December saw a relief in supply chain issues that enabled an acceleration of cargo growth. “Some relief on supply chain constraints occurred naturally in December as volumes decreased after peak shipping activity ended in advance of the Christmas holiday. This freed capacity to accommodate front-loading of some Lunar New Year shipments to avoid potential disruptions to flight schedules during the Winter Olympic games. And overall December cargo performance was assisted by additional belly-hold capacity as airlines accommodated an expected year-end boost to travel. As shortages of labor and storage capacity remain, governments must keep a sharp focus on supply chain constraints to protect the economic recovery,” said Walsh.

Deputy Head of Iran’s Ports and Maritime Organization (PMO) Jalil Eslami has said direct container shipping lines have been established between Iran’s southeastern port of Chabahar and two Western Indian ports of Nhava Sheva, and Kandla. According to Eslami, regular container service with a traffic schedule of 10 to 15 days is performed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines (IRISL) through these lines, the PMO portal reported. The official noted that PMO is going to offer the necessary tariff incentives and facilities on tolls and transportation costs to support the traders that use the lines. He pointed out that according to the schedule, the first container service through the mentioned route will enter Iran’s Shahid Beheshti port on February 16. Iran and India had previously launched shipping lines between Chabahar and the Indian ports of Mumbai, and Mundra. The first shipping route between the two countries was put into operation in 2017 between Iran’s Chabahar port and Mumbai.

APM Terminals Pipavav, achieved the highest berth productivity of 157.6 moves per hour during ‘MOL Gateway’ vessel of Thailand-India-Pakistan (TIP) service, a part of Ocean Network Express (ONE). TIP service operates through Ports of Pipavav, Bin Qasim, Karachi, Nhava Sheva, Colombo, Port Klang, Singapore and Laem Chabang. The commodities carried by the vessel were cotton, groundnut, sea food, white goods, agri commodities, automobile spares, machinery, electronic items, PVC resin, sanitary items and PPP granules. The service connects the Indian markets of Punjab, Gujarat, New Delhi with the Far East, thereby benefiting exporters & importers from these markets. Commenting on the achievement, Jakob Friis Sørensen, MD, APM Terminals Pipavav said, “The higher berth productivity on TIP (ONE) service after MECL service is yet another testimony of our efficiency that aims to help our customers. We are proud of our competent staff and infrastructure capability that help us to manage transit cargoes in a seamless and effective way. We also believe this efficiency is what sets up apart in terms of our service to our customers.”

Continuing the expansion of its global eCommerce business, CEVA Logistics announced today that the company has won a five-year contract with ABOUT YOU, one of Europe’s fastest-growing fashion platforms. CEVA will manage a new 40,000-square-meter fulfillment operation in Wroclaw-Magnice, Poland, using its automation and technology capabilities to deliver greater productivity and shorter lead times for ABOUT YOU’s eCommerce activities. Under the terms of the long-term deal, the CEVA Logistics contract logistics team in Poland will be responsible for managing the new highly automated and technology-driven facility that will provide ABOUT YOU with the responsive logistics needed for its international expansion. In addition, the facility will bring business and economic benefits to local communities. Approximately 1,000 employees are currently being recruited and trained to support the warehouse’s 24-hour operations. By strategically locating the new fulfilment distribution center in Wroclaw-Magnice in southwestern Poland, CEVA Logistics can easily serve ABOUT YOU’s customers across numerous countries. ABOUT YOU and CEVA are committed to operating the new facility in a sustainable manner, with numerous solutions being implemented at the greenfield site, including solar panels for clean energy.

Cargolux Airlines has launched a new online booking portal as part of the freighter operator’s investment in its digital capabilities. The new portal enables customers to log on, request an instant spot quote according to personalised criteria, as well as having visibility of allocations, “thereby enabling for the selection and booking of the best option”, the company said. “The online portal offers transaction options for all customer profiles, from international groups to local independent forwarders,” Cargolux said in a release. Mathieu Weber, vice president digital sales & marketing, added: “With this new portal, Cargolux is moving closer to an omni-channel connectivity experience for customers. The portal offers tailored quoting and booking in a few clicks and we are confident that this handy and timely solution will be highly appreciated by our customers.”

GreenBase, a joint venture between the realty major Hiranandani Group and US-based private equity firm Blackstone Group announced its plans to invest over INR 3,000 crores to develop industrial, logistics, and warehousing parks across key cities in India. The joint platform is looking to build and expand its portfolio by at least 15 million sq ft, taking it to more than 20 million sq ft in the next five years. The company is targeting a valuation of between Rs 5,500 crore and Rs 6,000 crore for its portfolio once the proposed expansion is completed. “The demand scenario for India’s logistics sector looks promising with rising consumerism and higher economic activity. We are optimistic about the growth in this segment, led by a conducive economic scenario, and our plans have been aligned to make the most of this rapid progress.” said N Shridhar, CEO of GreenBase. He adds, that the joint platform is also considering a plan to list the industrial and logistics portfolio through a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) in India or even overseas. GreenBase plans on financing the proposed investment through equity worth Rs 1,000 crore and the balance with leverage. The company’s current leverage level stands at around 25-30% of its existing capital.