The Kolkata Container Freight Station (CFS) of Balmer Lawrie & Co witnessed the maiden journey of the ‘Port Link Express’ export train, from its premises to Haldia port. The ‘Port Link Express’ is a cost-effective and eco-friendly land bridge initiative that will enhance trade logistics in the Eastern Region. The export train was flagged off by senior officials of Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd., Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, MSC Line, Hind Terminals Pvt. Ltd., Electrosteel Castings Ltd. and Asst. Commissioner of Customs. The debut export train, operated by Hind Terminals carried 90 export TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent Units) of the MSC Line, marking a milestone in logistics in the Haldia-Kolkata-Haldia sector.  The ‘Port Link Express’ is expected to significantly boost trade efficiency by enabling 2 to 3 trains per week to move between Haldia port and Balmer Lawrie CFS – Kolkata. This initiative, poised to become a vital component of the Eastern Region’s trade infrastructure, will not only reduce logistics costs but will also lessen the carbon footprint, thereby promoting environment friendly and sustainable trade practices. Besides improving logistics operations, this project underscores the importance of regulatory support from customs authorities in facilitating smoother trade. The import leg of the ‘Port Link Express’ was previously flagged off at Haldia port on 23rd June 2024. Balmer Lawrie’s CFS – Kolkata was set up in 1994 and was the first CFS to operate in the Eastern Region. Balmer Lawrie has similar facilities operational in Mumbai, Chennai and Visakhapatnam.

  Multi-modal logistics platform Zipaworld announced the expansion of its warehouse facilities with the setting up of a new facility near Indira Gandhi International Airport in the National Capital. The new facility will service clients from segments such as auto and spare parts, industrial machinery, FMCG, pharmaceuticals, perishables, agricultural products, and FMCG among others, Zipaworld said. This strategic expansion not only aims to address the current limitations posed by the existing infrastructure but also positions the company for substantial future growth going forward, Zipaworld said. “Our current facility has served us well, but as we grow, our needs evolve. The new warehouse, strategically positioned and thoughtfully designed, will allow us to serve our customers more efficiently and expand our market reach,” said Ambrish Kumar, Founder and CEO of Zipaworld. Located near key airports and industrial hubs, the new warehouse facility is set to transform the logistics landscape by offering increased storage capacity, faster shipment processing times, and reduced operational costs, the company said. Spread over an area of 6,500 sq ft, the round-the-clock facility with increased storage capacity will allow Zipaworld handle increased volumes and broaden its product offerings, thereby supporting the company’s rapid growth trajectory, it stated.. With the presence of on-site sales representatives and faster processing capabilities, customer interactions and satisfaction are expected to see significant improvements, the company said. Besides provisions for night clearance to enhance overall efficiency by enabling faster processing and reducing delays, the latest warehousing facility is also equipped with advanced tracking systems, to provide customers with real-time updates on their shipments, improving transparency. By streamlining workflows and integrating seamlessly with airport operations, the new facility will cut down shipment processing times and handling expenses, …

      Air India has selected IBS Software to digitally transform its expanding air cargo operations. Air India has chosen IBS Software’s iCargo solution to support its growth plan and commitment to the airline’s ongoing digital transformation. IBS Software’s fully integrated iCargo solution will enable Air India to digitise end-to-end cargo management, allowing seamless integration of various cargo operations, from sales to billing within a single, integrated platform. This will empower Air India to streamline processes and enhance decision-making capabilities. This partnership comes at a time when Air India has embarked on a significant digital transformation of its core businesses across passenger services, fleet, and cargo operations. Nipun Aggarwal, Chief Commercial and Transformation Officer at Air India, said: “Air India is on a transformation journey to not only reaffirm its position as a global leader in aviation, but to also establish foundations for future growth. Air cargo is one of the key drivers of our roadmap for future growth, and technology will be at the core of it.” Somit Goyal, Chief Executive Officer at IBS Software, shared similar sentiments, stating: “As one of the most iconic airlines in the world, partnering with Air India is a proud moment for IBS Software. The Indian aviation market is on a major upswing, and we are excited to be partnered with a company that is dedicated to driving this growth. We are proud that our market- leading digital platform for the air cargo industry will support the ambitious transformation goals of Air India’s cargo offering and take it from strength to strength.” The first end-to-end implementation of iCargo is slated for delivery within nine months from the project’s start, promising immediate business …

  DP World welcomed the inaugural voyage of a new weekly mainline service, connecting South East Asia, India and Middle East at DP World Mundra. Marked by successful berthing of MV. ESL vessel, the service strengthens connectivity between key ports in Southeast Asia, India, and the Middle East, reaffirming DP World’s commitment to enhancing global trade. Additionally, DP World Mundra achieved its highest-ever throughput record by handling 128,652 TEUs at its terminal in June, which serves as a testament to its operational efficiency and capacity. The service will be operated by Emirates Shipping Line, CMA CGM, China United Lines, KMTC, Regional Container Lines and Global Feeders. With a weekly capacity of 3800 TEUs, the service offers a robust connectivity between Laem Chabang, Singapore, Port Klang, Nhava Sheva, Jebel Ali, Dammam, Cai Mep, Jakarta, and Mundra, facilitating efficient trade flows for industries including agriculture, industrial goods, and engineering products. Commenting on the launch of the weekly EVGI service,Ravinder Johal, COO, Ports & Terminals, Operations and Commercial, DP World, Subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa, said, “At DP World we are continuously optimizing supply chain efficiencies and fostering access todirect trade routes. This service connects Indian businesses to key markets in Southeast Asia and the Middle East, while also enabling traders and businesses in those regions to explore new opportunities in India. Backed by our multimodal prowess that connect Mundra to the north and central hinterlands of India, we are confident that the service will boost convenience for our valued customers.” DP World Mundra features a 632-meter quay and deep draft to accommodate large vessels. With a capacity of 1.4 million TEUs over 37 hectares, the terminal is a key hub in India’s …

        The Chennai export cargo terminal (ACCMAA) gate was forced to shut by the CTO due to cargo overflow at the export shed, says Dinesh Krishnan, Regional Chairman, Southern Region at ACAAI adding, “leading to trucks waiting to offload export cargo spilling over to the NH,  customs clearance & handing time taking over 24 to 48 hrs, booked cargo missed flights leading to a flash strike by frustrated CHA employees. The terminal has 2 government CTO for the past few decades , AAICLAS ( the landlord / custodian ) having 80% of the terminal space and AIASL ( the tenant / earlier ground handing & custodian ) leaser for the 20% of the space , but handing over 50% of the export tonnage . The root cause of the current crises and decline of ACCMAA can be traced to inexperience of both these CTO to administer , invest and deliver quality air cargo logistics ( CTO operations ) demanded by the EXIM trade. A meeting was held again yesterday at the AIASL between the stakeholders and the CTO to review the issue , subsequently a debriefing with AAICLAS management was done too to see what can be done to improve the current situation . The crux of the matter is that , this is a landlord ( AAICALS ) and tenant ( AIASL ) dispute , each having a list of long term commercial & operation grievances each other . Chennai air cargo terminal ( ACCMAA ) once the gateway of air cargo from South has seen its market share and fortunes dwindle drastically in the past 15 years .This is despite the fact that Tamilnadu is the manufacturing …

Swissport Basel has launched its new “cool+connect” terminal to ensure  seamless integrity of pharmaceutical and temperature-sensitive goods (2-8°C) throughout the loading process, for global operations. By consolidating shipments from the same suppliers in a single truck instead of several as before, CO2 emissions and handling time are reduced by around 70% (from 4.5 to 1.5 hours), as transportation outside the airport is no longer necessary. “‘cool+connect’ is the first of its kind and we are proud to offer this innovation to our customers at EuroAirport,” says Andreas Behnke, Station Manager Basel, and member of the Swissport Global Cargo committee. “The cool chain infrastructure for pharmaceutical centers with many refrigerated containers meets a global need in the logistics industry. Swissport offers a proven, standardized  terminal for airlines, logistics providers and airports to outsource business-critical operations.” Swissport plans to introduce the “cool+connect” infrastructure worldwide. Additionally, the company is committed to expanding its network of IATA CEIV Pharma-certified cargo warehouses for pharmaceutical logistics. Swissport aims to achieve CEIV certification across its network, with Geneva, Switzerland, and Hamburg, Germany, already in the planning stages. In the United States, Swissport is actively pursuing certification for major pharmaceutical centers at Miami International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport, reinforcing its dedication to providing world-class handling of pharmaceutical goods.

JSW Infrastructure Ltd has been awarded a contract by Chennai division of Southern Railway to develop and operate a state-of-the-art multimodal cargo terminal at Arakkonam, says reports. This project is under the Gati Shakti Multimodal Cargo Terminal Policy 2022, and it will cover around one lakh sq metres of railway land next to Arakkonam railway station. The new terminal will include two full rake length lines, large wharf areas for easy goods handling, approach roads with highway connectivity, service buildings, and essential amenities for a fully developed cargo terminal, adds reports. The new terminal aims to make Arakkonam a global hub for multi-modal cargo operations, adding an expected 1 million tonnes of goods handled annually, as per reports. JSW Infrastructure will invest approximately ₹40-50 crore in the project. They have exclusive rights to build additional infrastructure, such as warehouses, mechanized loading/unloading facilities, specialised goods handling, and value-added services. The contract spans 35 years.

According to latest weekly figures and analysis from WorldACD Market Data, global air cargo rates are standing firm during a traditionally quieter market period, bolstered by continuing strong demand and high spot rates from Asian and Middle Eastern origins. Although, total worldwide tonnages in the June 10-16 week fell by 2 per cent, average rates remained more or less stable at $2.51 per kilo, up by 8 per cent compared with the equivalent week last year and significantly above pre-COVID levels (42 per cent higher than June 2019), based on the more than 450,000 weekly transactions covered by WorldACD’s data. Both tonnages (up by 11 per cent) and rates (up by 8 per cent) are well above last year’s levels, thanks to significantly higher demand from all the main worldwide origin regions, led by higher rates (up by 52 per cent) and tonnages (up by 13 per cent) from the Middle East & South Asia (MESA) origins, and higher rates (up by 17 per cent) and tonnages (up by 16 per cent) from Asia Pacific origins. Looking specifically at Los Angeles International (LAX) airport, where there have been anecdotal reports of cancellations of some freighters due to enhanced customs checks of inbound e-commerce-driven air cargo flights from China, rates have seen similar hikes in the last five weeks, from Asia Pacific as a whole (from $4.27 in week 19 to $4.79 in week 24, up 12 per cent) and China (from $4.52 in week 19 to $4.87 in week 24, up 8 per cent), taking those prices to 38 per cent and 30 per cent higher year on year (YoY) respectively. On the demand side, Asia Pacific to LAX tonnages …

FedEx Express Corporation released two cross-border e-commerce handbooks to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating internationally better engage with consumers in China and Japan, the biggest markets in the Asia Pacific region, with robust cross-border e-commerce activity, providing extensive business opportunities for SMEs. However, foreign merchants need to understand the unique digital landscape, consumer appetites, and logistics needs of each market to build a sustainable business model. “Finding new customers in international markets is a smart approach for SMEs wanting to drive consumer and revenue growth. Digital channels lower the barriers for market entry, but the best business strategies are underpinned by smart, local market insights. That’s critical in sectors like e-commerce which move incredibly quickly,” said Kawal Preet, president Asia Pacific, FedEx. “China and Japan are strategically important markets in the APAC region. We’ve built our local knowledge based on our decades-long operations, which is a critical component of the e-commerce experience. We’re also integrated in platforms and processes to provide a seamless experience for both merchants and consumers. That gives us a unique viewpoint on the latest local know-how to help e-tailers operate more effectively.”

Spirit AeroSystems has entered into a definitive merger agreement under which The Boeing Company will acquire Spirit for $37.25 per share in Boeing common stock at $37.25 per share, this represents an equity value of approximately $4.7 billion and an enterprise value of approximately $8.3 billion including Spirit’s last reported net debt. The price of $37.25 per share represents a 30% premium to Spirit’s closing stock price of $28.60 on February 29, 2024, the last day before both Spirit and Boeing issued press releases confirming they were in discussions regarding a potential transaction. “After carefully evaluating Boeing’s offer to combine, we are confident this transaction is in the best interest of Spirit and its shareholders, and will benefit Spirit’s other stakeholders,” said Patrick M. Shanahan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Spirit. “Bringing Spirit and Boeing together will enable greater integration of both companies’ manufacturing and engineering capabilities, including safety and quality systems.” Spirit also announced today that it entered into a binding term sheet with Airbus SE. Under the term sheet, the parties will continue to negotiate in good faith to enter into definitive agreements for Airbus to acquire certain Spirit assets that serve Airbus programs, concurrently with the closing of Spirit’s acquisition by Boeing.