Category Archives: International

ECU Worldwide, global multi-modal logistics major launched an intensive industry study on ‘The state of API adoption within the freight forwarding market’. The study helps discern the impact of APIs on freight forwarders and understand the forwarders’ perspective on API adoption. This report is informed on a global survey of over 120 commercial freight forwarding companies. Here are some key takeaways from the report: * Technology limitations and data streamlining are major headwinds to API adoption – The logistics industry has been slow on the uptake with technology, which holds true with data capturing and building inter-stakeholder connectivity. * Lack of awareness is a significant deterrent to data standardization – The discussions on data quality go hand-in-hand with data standardization, as disparate data that do not conform to a particular set of standards will be essentially unusable. * Human-intensive operations likely the earliest workflows to be API integrated – Respondents pursuing data integrations do so by standardizing workflows within their organization in line with other industry stakeholders—both upstream and downstream. * Improved visibility and operational efficiency are low-hanging fruits of API adoption – Visibility and efficiency have been recurring themes within the survey, reflecting the positive correlation forwarders see with API integration. Tim Tudor, CEO ECU Worldwide, said, “Digitization and innovation will play a strong role in building visibility and creating integrated end-to-end solutions for cargo owners. ECU Worldwide wants to encourage the creation of a technology enabled eco-system and supply-chain focused tools to reduce the costs of logistics and make India’s exports more competitive. Stronger technology adoption in the logistics sector will also improve transparency, reliability and predictability in the supply chains across the globe.”

SSI SCHAEFER and Tee Yih Jia Food Manufacturing Pte Ltd., are set to launch Singapore’s largest automated rack-clad high bay warehouse storage facility in Q1 2022 at Tee Yih Jia’s new $450 million production facility in Senoko – the “Tee Yih Jia Food Hub”. The upcoming Tee Yih Jia facility consists of three warehouses — two cold rooms and one ambient temperature dry store — and features rack clad high bay warehouse with an automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) which allows the automated placement and retrieval of high-volume loads from TYJ’s storage locations. Spanning more than 100,000 pallet positions of frozen storage racks, TYJ’s food factory and warehouse storage facility sits on a land area of 40,000 m². It is installed with 15 SSI EXYZ cranes which is estimated to be able to move up to 300 pallets per hour with automation technology. This cooperation comes as warehouse automation booms across the Asia-Pacific region. The APAC automated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of about 10% between 2021 and 2026. This growth is prominent in the food and beverage (F&B) industry, as companies recognize the advantages provided by ASRS systems and increase focus towards market adoption.

Trademo, a global supply chain intelligence company has secured $12.5 million seed round funding. Trademo is building a global supply chain knowledge graph to help global-trade participants discover new opportunities, remain compliant with regulations, build operationally resilient supply chains, and grow commerce. Investors include marquee Silicon Valley venture capitalists Amit Singhal (former SVP Google), Saama Capital, Neeraj Arora (former Chief Business Officer of WhatsApp), Sridhar Ramaswamy (Founder/CEO Neeva and former SVP Google) and Shalabh Singhal (founder/CEO Trademo). “Global trade and supply chains have become increasingly complex over time. It’s very difficult for a large majority of businesses to manage this complexity and avoid disruptions without using external intelligence,” explained Ash Lilani, Managing Partner, Saama Capital. “When 70% of companies reporting issues monitoring supply chains last year, Trademo’s solution comes at the right time and is using the right technology and approach to crack one of the most important problems of our times.”

Kuehne+Nagel taking forward the issue of sustainability by becoming the first air logistics provider with an option to purchase Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) for each shipment and avoid carbon emissions. This new add-on is available for the customers on all Kuehne+Nagel air freight quoting platforms and channels, allowing customers to choose carbon neutral transport via their preferred online or offline quoting method. With the newly launched offering, all Kuehne+Nagel customers can easily opt for SAF to be used instead of fossil fuel for air transport and benefit from net-zero carbon emissions air freight services – regardless of airlines used, origin or destination. As SAF still produces some CO2 emissions, carbon neutrality is achieved by substituting each litre of jet fuel kerosene used with 1.33 litres of SAF.

Lufthansa Cargo reported traffic revenue increase of 37 percent to €2.4 billion for nine months ended September 30, 2021, from €1.8 billion in January-September 2020. The increased capacity (available cargo tonne-kilometres) by 5 percent compared to the previous year and sales (revenue cargo tonne-kilometres) increased 11 percent to 5.2 billion. “Cargo load factor improved four percentage points to 71.8 percent and yields, adjusted for exchange rate effects, went up in all traffic regions and were 25.4 percent higher overall than the previous year,” an official statement said. Lufthansa Group’s cargo business revenue increased 37 percent to €2.8 billion for January-September 2021 on higher sales and better yields. Carsten Spohr, CEO, Lufthansa Group, told analysts, “The unprecedented strength of the air cargo market will continue”. “Cargo results remain on record levels even in the lower-volume summer months”, CFO Remco Steenbergen added.

Go First becomes the first airline to start a direct international connection from Srinagar to Sharjah. It has inked a pact with UAE-based Lulu Group and becomes the first airline to commence international cargo services from Kashmir Valley. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between Go First Head (Corporate Affairs) Mohit Dwivedi and Lulu Group Director Salim M A, in the presence of Principal Secretary Industries and Commerce, and Administrative Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, Government of Jammu and Kashmir, Ranjan Thakur. “On behalf of the Lulu, I am very thankful to the Government of Jammu and Kashmir as well as the Government of India for giving us the opportunity to come to Kashmir. We are quite surprised to see the immense opportunities that we have for the exports from here. As Lulu, we will be able to take a lot of fruit, vegetables and antique and craft and a lot more items. We assure you that we will do our best to export goods from Kashmir.” said Salim M A, Director, Lulu Group “On behalf of Go First, I would like to thank the Jammu and Kashmir government, Lulu Group and the Government of India, for giving us this opportunity for taking up the cargo for gulf countries. We are happy with this agreement. The airline will start the operations from December this year.” said Mohit Dwivedi, Head (Corporate Affairs), Go First.

cargo.one announces the launch of a real-time data and analytics product called cargo.one360. This will provide cargo.one partner airlines with unique insights to maximize their sales performance in digital channels. cargo.one360 helps airlines to accelerate the airlines’ adoption of best practices in digital sales, delivers valuable customer insights, and reflects market changes and trends to facilitate better tactical and strategic commercial decision-making. As the Boston Consulting Group recently noted, data-based steering can boost net profits by up to 12 percent in the first year. While an increasing shift towards digital sales predates the pandemic, Covid-19 has supercharged this trend: volatile schedules, constrained capacity, and disrupted pricing mechanisms have sent customers seeking transparency on offers, and instantly confirmed bookings.

IAG Cargo capacity increased 24 percent compared to the previous quarter (Q22021) and 62.2 percent compared to Q32020. “The increased activity reflects growing levels of global trade as many economies experience recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. New routes during the quarter included Nairobi, Istanbul, Male, Chennai, Vienna, Denver and Phoenix whilst many other lanes saw increased frequencies,” an official statement said. IAG Cargo reported a 34 percent increase in revenue to €405 million for the quarter ended September 30, 2021 on increasing capacity and network. Revenue for nine months increased to €1,174 million, up 28 percent compared to the same time last year. During the nine months, 3,334 cargo-only flights were operated. David Shepherd, managing director, IAG Cargo, said: “This quarter we have seen momentum build as IAG Cargo, and the global economy, begins to take increasingly confident steps towards a more buoyant future, as recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic continues to gain ground. The team’s resilience and commitment to put our customers first continues, and we are excited to enter into a new and ambitious phase of activity.”

The Hambantota International Port (HIP) recently facilitated the shipment of locally manufactured trailers, marking the beginning of its services to the local industry as a gateway port. “The master plan of the Hambantota International Port clearly spells out supporting the development of Sri Lankan industries servicing overseas markets. This shipment for Dutch Lanka Trailers emphasizes HIP’s position as Sri Lanka’s gateway port and flags a new era for local manufacturers in terms of cost effective methods to reach their respective markets,” says Lance Zuo- General Manager Commercial and Marketing. Tissa Wickramasinghe, COO of Hambantota International Port Group (HIPG) says, “The Hambantota International Port is well equipped to handle such cargo and has an advanced Turburg tractor which makes it more convenient for the shipper. Higher freight rate charges on container vessels and congestion faced by other ports in handling containerized cargo, makes HIP the better choice for such shipments. Shipping this kind of cargo via RORO vessel is becoming more of a trend because of its cost effectiveness for the shipper and we are looking to explore this new opportunity further.”

A UPS 747 flight is now connecting India directly to Europe and connecting UPS customers to North and Latin American markets five days per week. That doubles the company’s previous capacity to and from India for small and medium-sized business customers looking to grow their revenue base. UPS’s first direct flight from India will connect Delhi to its largest international hub at Cologne, Germany. Customers have been diversifying their supply chains as they respond to pandemic disruptions. And cargo space in the belly of passenger aircraft – normally reliable and cost-effective – has been significantly reduced. Now, buoyed by market demand and with an eye on business continuity, Indian entrepreneurs are looking for reliable alternatives to import and export products. “When business demand is increasing and volumes globally are being challenged, what you need is a smart logistics network that can respond to what customers are asking for, in an altered business environment. The agility to connect major economies to India via a direct flight for exports and imports is an example of UPS’s better not bigger strategy and will provide reliability and expanded capacity to UPS’s customers,” said Rachid Fergati, Managing Director Middle East, Central Asia, and Indian subcontinent for UPS.