DP World has successfully executed the open access sourcing of green power at its Nhava Sheva terminals, Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) and Nhava Sheva India Gateway Terminal (NSIGT), starting from July 1, 2024.  Electricity generated remotely is integrated into the state grid, supplying power to NSICT and NSIGT. The open access sourcing of green power initiative, with a cumulative capacity of 11 MW, is expected to replace approximately 75% of conventional energy needs at NSICT and 80% at NSIGT. This will lead to a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions. Ravinder Johal, COO, Ports & Terminals, Operations and Commercial, DP World, Subcontinent, Middle East and North Africa, said ” The execution of open access sourcing of green power at DP World’s Nhava Sheva terminals is a pivotal step towards achieving our sustainability goals. This exemplifies our commitment to environmentally compatible designs and resilient infrastructure. By integrating green energy, we are significantly reducing our carbon footprint, in line with the Government’s Maritime India Vision 2030. Our approach with Green Port Guidelines includes employing best practices and electrification of equipment, maximizing clean energy use, and adhering to the ‘Working with Nature’ concept to minimize the impact on the harbor ecosystem. This milestone not only supports sustainable port operations but also showcases our dedication to innovative and sustainable solutions, setting a benchmark for future developments.”

According to a latest report by Colliers’ India titled ‘Industrial and Warehousing Market’ report, Leasing activity in the industrial and warehousing sector grew by over 17 per cent in the first six months of 2024 from the year-ago period to 13 million square feet (msf). Chennai and Delhi-NCR micro-markets led the demand, with each accounting for over 3 million square feet of leasing in H1 2024, the report stated. About 7.5 msf of new supply was added in the April-June quarter, the highest in last two years, the report released on July 27 said. Vijay Ganesh, Managing Director, Industrial & Logistics Services, Colliers India, said in a statement that on a quarterly basis, the June quarter saw about 6 msf of industrial and warehousing demand across the top five cities, a 48 percent rise from the previous year.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for June 2024 global air cargo markets showing continuing strong annual growth in demand. This contributed to an exceptional first half-year performance for air cargo, with volumes exceeding 2023, 2022, and even the record-breaking 2021 levels. Total demand, measured in cargo tonne-kilometers (CTKs*), rose by 14.1% compared to June 2023 levels (15.6% for international operations). This is the seventh consecutive month of double-digit year-on-year growth. Capacity, measured in available cargo tonne-kilometers (ACTKs), increased by 8.8% compared to June 2023 (10.8% for international operations). Total half-year (H1) demand increased by 13.4% compared to H1 2023, by 4.3% compared to H1 2022, and by 0.02% compared to H1 2021. “Air cargo demand surged in June. Strong growth across all regions and major trade lanes combined for a record-breaking first-half performance in terms of CTKs. Maritime shipping constraints and a booming e-commerce sector are among the strongest growth drivers. Meanwhile, the sector has remained largely impervious to ongoing political and economic challenges, and the US customs crackdown on e-commerce deliveries from China. Air cargo looks to be on solid ground to continue its strong performance into the second half of 2024,” said Willie Walsh, IATA’s Director General.

IBS Software and Singapore Airlines have collaborated to co-develop a shipment record solution. The two companies have joined forces to meet the IATA’s ONE Record standards via the digitisation of the shipment records and use of new-age technology, says reports. Working in conjunction with CCN (Cargo Community Network), SIA and IBS have already completed the first phase of this plan and would look to further enhance the operational efficiencies using the state of the art technology. Ashok Rajan, Head of Cargo and Logistics Solutions at IBS Software said, “Partnering with Singapore Airlines, a globally recognised leader in aviation innovation, to drive the digital future of air cargo is a significant objective for IBS Software. In today’s cargo industry, data accessibility and transparency are paramount. Data and digitalisation are key enablers for the development of solutions that allow cargo carriers to grow and meet their customers’ evolving needs. We are proud to have the support of an industry pioneer like Singapore Airlines in enhancing accessibility and excellence in the digitalisation of air cargo.”  

Transport Corporation of India (TCI) will reportedly incur a capital expenditure of around ₹1,000 crore over the next four years as the logistics giant plans to expand its scale focusing on warehouses, shipping, and land as well as on acquiring new vehicles (trucks) and expanding its vehicle fleet. “In the next four years, we look at about ₹1,000 crore in capex. So, in that about ₹400 crore will be on ships, approximately ₹300 crore would be in warehouse & land business, approximately ₹150 crore in trucks and containers and approximately ₹150 crore on other assets such as warehousing equipment, other capex that you require on a regular basis,” Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director, TCI said in a statement.

Pradeep Panicker, CEO, GMR Hyderabad International Airport shares, “The export-import operations of India rely significantly on international carriers, creating an opportunity for domestic airlines to expand their freighter connectivity. Yet, several challenges like insufficient infrastructure for cold chain logistics, low uptake of advanced technologies, a shortage of skilled personnel in pharmaceuticals, and regulatory obstacles post-Covid hinder progress. The lack of dedicated wide-body freighter aircraft restricts access to distant markets, while complex regulations and poor industry coordination aggravate delays and inefficiencies in air cargo operations. To optimize India’s air cargo sector, it is vital to foster seamless coordination among stakeholders and address infrastructure deficiencies.”

“IATA recognizes the DGR certificates issued by DGCA-approved Indian DGR training schools. What we are asking for is an additional letter from the training provider to expedite the authentication of the DGR certificate and keep the duration of the cargo accreditation process to a minimum,” says Albert Tjoeng, Head – Corporate Communications at IATA. He adds, “DGR certification is a requirement for IATA cargo accreditation. This is to ensure there are trained personnel for handling the safe transportation of cargo, particularly dangerous goods. The DGR certification for IATA cargo accreditation can be obtained from the following: an IATA Dangerous Goods Course, an airline’s course of formal instruction in Dangerous Goods Acceptance, a course of formal instruction in Dangerous Goods Acceptance offered by a training establishment which has been appraised and endorsed by IATA as an Accredited Training School (ATS) and/or Competency Based Training Assessment (CBTA) Center,  the ICAO-FIATA Dangerous Goods Training Course in Dangerous Goods Acceptance. a course of formal instruction offered by a training organization or other establishment which has been endorsed, or meets the criteria established by the regulatory authority responsible for Dangerous Goods in the specified country. “Unfortunately, over the years, we have received fraudulent DGR training certificates across the world. This is a concern that can have safety implications.  As there is no global list of the thousands of training courses approved by each national aviation authority, nor of the courses that comply with the national aviation regulations, from 1 July 2024, we have required a letter for certificates issued by these training providers. This is to help authenticate that the certificate is genuine and help maintain this safety requirement within air cargo. Instead of a …

Air France KLM Martinair Cargo (AFKLMP) is pulling freighter capacity out of the Latin American market to increase its focus on the rapidly growing market out of Asia. The carrier today announced that Martinair would launch a new Boeing 747-400 freighter service between Amsterdam Schiphol and Hong Kong via Dubai offering around 110 tonnes of capacity per flight. The service will launch on September 19, initially operating three times per week before increasing to four weekly flights at the start of the winter season on October 27.

Indian multinational tyre manufacturing company MRF Tyres has secured a substantial warehousing space covering 3.85 lakh sq ft in the village of Sudvadi, located in Pune’s Mawal area through a long-term lease agreement extending over a total period of 10 years. The Chennai-headquartered company has entered into this lease arrangement with NDR Warehouse and according to the terms of the lease, MRF will be paying an initial monthly rental of nearly Rs 1.05 crore. The lease agreement is structured to include an annual rental escalation clause of 4.5%.

Logistics player BookMyCargo has entered the domestic business-to-consumer (B2C) segment to increase its market presence as it targets Rs 100 crore topline by FY30, a company official said. Established in 2016, the Gurugram-based BookMyCargo (BMC) is operating in the business-to-business (B2B) space serving clients in sectors like FMCG, consumer goods, and pharma among others. “As of 2016, the demand for same-day deliveries was less than 1 per cent. It is anticipated to increase to 22 per cent by 2025. We have entered into the B2C segment to tap this growth and increase our presence,” BookMyCargo Founder J D Yadav said. The company has also started B2C services in Thailand, he said. The company’s new service covers 75 provinces of the Southeast Asian country. As of March 2024, the company’s turnover was Rs 12.3 crore, Yadav said.