Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd. is poised to exceed the handling of 400 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) of cargo in the fiscal year 2024, in line with its ambitious target of reaching 500 MTPA by 2025, as revealed by Adani Ports Chief Executive Officer, Subrata Tripathi during Global Maritime Summit. He Affirmed that the company has already achieved a remarkable 200 MTPA during the first and second quarters of fiscal year 2024. Furthermore, he expressed confidence in the company’s capability to reach the 400 MTPA milestone in FY24, aligning seamlessly with the overarching goal of attaining 500 MTPA by 2025. In the previous year, Adani Ports handled 350 MTPA of cargo, leveraging its substantial capacity of nearly 600 MTPA, says reports. Tripathi emphasized that, given Adani Ports’ role in routing 25% of cargo in India, there is a strong belief that the target can be attained without significant hindrances.

UPS has entered into an agreement to acquire US-based software and reverse logistics company Happy Returns from PayPal. According to UPS, Happy Returns aims to enable “frictionless, no-box, no-label returns for merchants and consumers” and reduce “the cost of e-commerce for all players and creating a more efficient, sustainable supply chain”. The acquisition of Happy Returns is expected to close in the fourth quarter of this year. “We know that returns have long frustrated shoppers and retailers looking for quick and easy solutions,” UPS chief executive Carol Tomé said. “By combining Happy Returns’ easy digital experience and established drop-off points with UPS’s small package network and footprint of close to 5,200 The UPS Store locations, box-free, label-free returns will soon be available at more than 12,000 convenient locations in the U.S.” “Joining the UPS team is a win for both our employees and our customers,” said Happy Returns chief executive and co-founder David Sobie, who will continue to lead the business for UPS after the deal closes. “In recent years, the growth of Happy Returns has accelerated, and we’ve built an enterprise-grade solution. This new chapter is a natural next step for Happy Returns and allows us to harness the power of the UPS network to transform the returns industry.”

Industrial & Logistics (I&L) sector is likely to touch a 5-year high absorption mark and touch 36 to 38 mn. sq. ft. in 2023 across top 8 cities in India, says CBRE South Asia in its latest report – India Market Monitor Q3 2023. Supply addition, too, is expected to outperform, touching 35 – 37 mn. sq. ft. by the year-end, driven by the completion of pent-up projects. The leasing in the I&L sector grew by 13% Y-o-Y in the Jan-Sep’23 period. The total absorption across the top 8 Indian cities stood at 27.3 mn. sq. ft, compared to 24.2 mn. sq. ft. in Jan-Sep’22. Mumbai, Chennai, and Delhi-NCR collectively accounted for a share of 56% in the leasing activity during the Jan-Sep’23 period, the report adds.

International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) operated by DP World at Cochin, announced the arrival of four new Electric RTG (Rubber Tyred Gantry) Cranes at its terminal on 17th of October. The cranes arrived on the vessel m.v. Pietersgracht which berthed at the terminal around 1100 hrs. This development is in line with ICTT’s commitment to fulfil its expansion and sustainability plans in achieving its medium-term objective to be the most preferred gateway for South India and a leading transhipment Terminal for India. The introduction of the E-RTGS at ICTT also aligns with DP World’s overall sustainability target of achieving 28% CO2 reduction by 2030. The arrival of these four new electric RTG cranes along with the expected arrival of 2 state of the art STS (Ship-to-Shore) Mega Max cranes in December 2023 would be an important milestone for DP World Cochin, in its capacity enhancement as well as sustainability objectives. Speaking on the arrival of the E-RTGs, Praveen Thomas Joseph, CEO, DP World Cochin said, “At DP World, we constantly work towards higher standards of operational excellence and customer service to enable our customers reach their products in the shortest and most cost-efficient manner, seamlessly. The introduction of the four new e- RTGs and the ongoing electrification of 100% of the existing fleet of RTGs will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of goods transiting through ICTT thereby giving our customers another competitive edge on the sustainability front. We have launched multiple new service lines this year and the onboarding of our new E-RTG cranes will help us achieve quicker turnarounds for the trade.”

Škoda Auto has opened a new 16,000 sq. mt. facility in Pune, India which will be used to pack complete knockdown (CKD) kits of its Kushaq and Slavia models for export to Vietnam. There, the CKD kits will be welded, painted and assembled at a production line currently being built in Quãng Ninh province and expected to open in the first half of 2024. “With the opening of the new Parts Expedition Centre, we are paving the way for exporting CKD units from India to Vietnam,” said Andreas Dick, head of production and logistics at Škoda Auto. “This represents a crucial step in effectively leveraging the synergies between these strategically important markets. As we gear up to export our products to additional emerging markets, the Parts Expedition Centre may also serve as a logistics hub for the Asean region.” Škoda began selling vehicles in Vietnam in September this year, starting with the Karoq and Kodiaq models, which are exported there from Europe. CKD exports from India will begin with the Kushaq next year, followed by the Slavia. Škoda said it is also considering selling the Superb and Octavia models on the Vietnamese market in the near future.

Organized by Cargo Talk Middle East, the first edition of Arabian Cargo Awards 2023, held on October 24, at Sofitel Dubai Downtown was a huge success. The awards night honored and appreciated the hard work of the ‘unsung heroes’ of the Middle East’s Air Cargo and Logistics industry. The event which is set to become the industry’s most prestigious accolade, brought together leading names and key players in the region’s cargo and logistics sector for an evening of celebration and recognition. It served as platform created with a vision to recognize excellence in the Cargo-Freight-Logistics Industry across various domains, including Road, Air, Allied Services, Warehousing and Technology,

MSC Air Cargo has joined The International Air Cargo Association (TIACA). Jannie Davel, senior vice president air cargo at MSC Air Cargo, said in a LinkedIn post on October 19 that the move is a “significant milestone in our journey towards excellence in the air cargo industry.” Davel added, “At MSC Air Cargo, we are committed to delivering innovative solutions and world-class service to our clients. Joining TIACA aligns perfectly with our mission to continually improve and stay at the forefront of industry developments. “TIACA’s global network and expertise will empower us to connect, collaborate, and contribute to the growth and innovation of air cargo on a global scale. We look forward to engaging with fellow members, sharing insights, and collectively shaping the future of air cargo.” TIACA represents the global air cargo community: shippers, freight forwarders, ground handlers, airports, airlines, manufacturers, solution providers as well as cargo media, universities and academia.

India has better presence of international airlines, operating to & from a large number of origins and destinations, high aircraft movements happening, says Sushant Nigam, Executive Director at ACAAI. He adds, Cargo Terminals and better transshipment facilities should be utilized optimally by the neighboring countries like Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Kathmandu, etc. After the initiatives taken by the cargo industry of India, cargo originating from Bangladesh is being carried by road via Petropole / Benapole border to Indian gateway airports like Kolkata and Delhi, to start with, for upliftment to final foreign destination. It will benefit everyone in the entire supply chain.

Jeena & Company has partnered with Uniserve Group, to focus on providing first-class customer service. It embodies the idea that when two industry leaders collaborate, they can achieve more than the sum of their parts. Together, Jeena and Uniserve aim to redefine the logistics landscape in India, offering customers an unparalleled experience in international freight management and movement. Clients can expect nothing less than the utmost integrity, seamless services, and exceptional customer care. The synergy between these two powerhouses will set a new standard for logistics services in both countries. Gary Cobbing, Group Chief Commercial and Operating Officer at Uniserve, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “Our shared vision for excellence and commitment to first-class customer service make this partnership a perfect fit. Starting from the 1st of October 2023, we look forward to a long and successful collaborative partnership together.” Jeena & Company’s rich history spanning more than 12 decades of operations in India and a presence in 27 locations across the country, has rightfully earned its status as the go-to international logistics partner in India. Over the years, they have set the gold standard for logistics services and have built an unshakable foundation of trust and reliability with their clients. Uniserve, a renowned provider of logistics solutions in the UK for many years, has carved a niche for itself with an unwavering commitment to delivering top-tier logistics services. Their dedication to precision and efficiency has earned them a strong reputation in the country, making them a trusted partner for businesses across various industries. Excited about the collaboration, Sam Katgara, Partner at Jeena & Company said, “This partnership signifies a remarkable step forward for both Jeena and Uniserve …

DP World and the Cochin Port Authority, signed two Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) for capacity and capability expansion at the port. The first MoU will witness DP World implement Phase I of a Free Trade Warehousing Zone (FTWZ) at Cochin Port. The second MoU will see the logistics major enhance its cargo handling facilities at International Container Transshipment Terminal (ICTT)/ India Gateway Terminal Private Limited (IGTPL) at Cochin Port. Once operational, the proposed DP World owned and operated Cochin Integrated Business Park (Q1 2024) will be the first Free Trade Warehousing Zone development in Kerala and the first one to be co-located alongside a terminal in the country. The synergies between ICTT and Cochin Integrated Business Park are expected to significantly enhance trade possibilities for international and domestic businesses and expand their markets. Similarly, the second MoU will expand ICTT’s capacity as well as enhance operational efficiency thereby attracting more cargo and liner services. Speaking about the MoU, Shri Vipin R. Menoth, Traffic Manager, Cochin Port Authority said, “We are extremely happy to sign two Memorandums of Understanding with DP World that will strengthen our credentials as the best port in South India along the west coast. We are excited to welcome the proposed FTWZ that will boost trade in the region. As the first FTWZ to be co-located alongside a terminal Cochin Integrated Business Park will open up new possibilities for Cochin port.” Commenting on the MoU, Shri Devang Mankodi, Global Shared Services, DP World India and Director, IGTPL, DP World, Cochin said, “We share Cochin Port Authority’s vision of making trade possible for businesses in South India. Our collaboration with Cochin Port Authority has helped us position ICTT …