The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for July 2024 global air cargo markets showing continuing strong annual growth in demand. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 13.6% compared to July 2023 levels (14.3% for international operations). This is the eighth consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth, with overall levels reaching heights not seen since the record peaks of 2021. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 8.3% compared to July 2023 (10.1% for international operations). This was largely related to the growth in international belly capacity, which rose 12.8% on the strength of passenger markets and balancing the 6.9% growth of international freighter capacity. It should be noted that the increase in belly capacity is the lowest in 40 months whereas the growth in freighter capacity is the highest since an exceptional jump was recorded in January 2024. “Air cargo demand hit record highs year-to-date in July with strong growth across all regions. The air cargo business continues to benefit from growth in global trade, booming e-commerce and capacity constraints on maritime shipping. With the peak season still to come, it is shaping to be a very strong year for air cargo. And airlines have proven adept at navigating political and economic uncertainties to flexibly meet emerging demand trends,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

Mumbai Port Sustainability Foundation (MPSF), part of Mumbai Ports Authority has signed an MoU with Classification society DNV to cooperate on activities and projects related to decarbonisation, digitalisation, emissions management, and safety.  The MPSF, through its Centre of Excellence on ESG and circularity, aims to support local ports and maritime companies in the enhancement of their overall sustainability through the adoption of advanced technologies and eco-friendly practices. Under the MoU, DNV will provide MPSF with expert guidance and insights into industry needs, regulatory requirements, technological advancements, as well as safety and quality protocols in the maritime and energy sectors. DNV experts will also work closely with MPSF to explore the commercial potential of low carbon fuel bunkering, storage and transfer, among others. Dr.R.D.Tripathi, CEO of Mumbai Port Sustainability Foundation (MPSF) said, “The joint working of DNV with MPSF through this MoU will facilitate in-depth analysis of issues and innovative solutions for overall sustainability and greening opportunities of the port operation.”

CargoAi announced its strategic partnership with Singapore Airlines (SIA) to offer enhanced airfreight booking capabilities on its innovative platform, CargoMART. This partnership signifies a significant step forward in CargoAi’s mission to shape and connect the freight landscape through innovation. By integrating Singapore Airlines’ airfreight services into CargoMART, CargoAi continues to expand its ecosystem of digital solutions, driving frictionless procurement and payment while promoting sustainability within the industry. With CargoMART’s latest offering, freight forwarders will now have seamless access to Singapore Airlines’ extensive network, enabling them to book airfreight shipments with ease and efficiency. This collaboration not only enhances connectivity but also streamlines operational processes for users, furthering CargoAi’s vision of transforming the air cargo industry. Matt Petot, CEO, CargoAi, said, “We are thrilled to join forces with Singapore Airlines, a global leader in air transportation. This collaboration underscores our commitment to providing our users with best-in-class technology and unparalleled access to airfreight services worldwide. Together, we are poised to revolutionize the way air cargo is managed and shipped.”

Samir J Shah, Partner, JBS Jeena Logistics says, “The announcement of govt planning to automate custom processes by 2025 is received with a lot of hope and expectations. Transparency, predictability, speed and compliance, can be trusted two sides of the same coin – with the regulator and user fulfilling each’s role. Correct data filing and compilation will facilitate more risk managed and less intervention clearances. All stakeholders must be sensitive to the learnings of Faceless clearances as well as the erratic hardware, software and connectivity issues. The innovations and developments of CBIC are welcome.”

Apeksha Gupta, Head of Skilling, VCJ Foundation Trust stated, “The SPICED scheme, launched by the Spices Board of India, aims to enhance spice exports and improve cardamom productivity by upgrading post-harvest quality. It will be implemented until FY 2025-26 with a budget of Rs 422.30 crore. The scheme introduces new sub-components like the Mission Value Addition, Mission Clean and Safe Spices, and promotion of GI spices. It also supports entrepreneurship through Spice Incubation Centres.”

  C K Govil, CMD, Activair Airfreight and President ACAAI said, “India’s spice sector, known for its rich heritage, now faces the challenge of enhancing exports in a competitive global market. The SPICED scheme, with a significant budget of ₹422.30 crore, is a timely initiative that focuses on sustainability, innovation, and value addition. This forward-looking approach will not only boost exports but also strengthen India’s position as a global spice leader. As we gear up for this transformation, the SPICED scheme represents a significant step towards securing India’s leadership in the global spice trade, ensuring that our spices continue to captivate taste buds worldwide.”

Ramkumar Menon, Chairman, World Spice Organisation shares, “Indian spice exports are back on track this year at USD 4.4 billion showing an increase in value and volume of exports after a slight dip in the past financial year. However, the Spices Board has set an ambitious target of USD 10 bn for 2030 and USD 30 billion by 2050. It is essential to establish a long-term plan to broaden India’s market share. This can only be achieved by boosting value addition opportunities, establishing export friendly policies and developing strategy to face the challenges from competing origins.”  

Sunil Kohli, Managing Director, Rahat Cargo says, “The scheme introduced by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry is primarily focused on expansion of areas and improving productivity of Cardamom (small & large) and to further generate an exportable surplus of quality spices through post-harvest improvement, export promotion of spices and increasing the share of value-added spices in the export basket. The additional vital components of this scheme are enhancing capacities for market expansion, the trade Promotion, the technological interventions with related research and capacity building apart from establishing skill development centers.”

GEODIS announced an extension to its warehouse, co-packing and distribution contractual relationship with Mondelēz International in Singapore, for a further three years from this month.  Under the contract GEODIS will continue to support Mondelēz International in providing warehousing and distribution of their products to all retail channels & outlets in Singapore. This extension reflects GEODIS’ excellent performance in achieving productivity, innovation and sustainability levels that align with Mondelēz International’s global warehousing & transportation expectations. Since 2008, GEODIS has provided comprehensive end-to-end third-party logistics services to Mondelēz International. In addition to warehousing and distribution functions, the service provision includes inventory management, order fulfilment, reverse logistics and value-added activities such as labelling and product bundling for sales promotions. The award of the contract extension is based on GEODIS’ successful track record of achieving Mondelēz International’s key performance indicators (KPIs). Such KPIs include maintaining 100% of inventory/stock accuracy in Cycle Count and Annual Stock Take; achieving close to 100% for Delivery On-Time and In-Full, and the highest rating of “Satisfactory” for Quality Assurance (QA) audit compliance. Looking ahead, GEODIS is also exploring environmentally pragmatic initiatives to further streamline operations. Planned initiatives include utilizing electric vehicles (EVs) for deliveries and installing solar panels and LED lighting replacements to optimize energy consumption. Andy Tan, Customer Service & Logistics Lead for Singapore and AMEA Exports said: “At Mondelēz International, we prioritize efficiency, innovation, and sustainability in our supply chain, combining our dedication to our consumers with our commitment to the planet. GEODIS has consistently excelled in warehousing and distribution, supporting our growth in Singapore. We look forward to continuing this successful partnership and exploring new sustainable initiatives together.”  

Dushyant Mulani, President, Brihanmumbai Custom Broker Association (BCBA) and Chairman, Federation of Freight Forwarders in India (FFFAI), who was recently honoured with DDP Trailblazer award at India Cargo Awards 2024, said, “This industry is amazing. When I started my career, the first thing that I realised was the startup world had started. We have 60 per cent startups out here. And the first-time entrepreneurship and first-time employment generation potential is amazing, especially in the logistics sector. Friends, be ready, tighten your seatbelts for the next flight.”