Get ready to be part of very interesting and insightful third Pharma Digital Conclave being organised by Cargo Talk in collaboration with Cargo Service Center (CSC) on July 21st, 2023 at 11am to 12 Noon. The digital conclave on ‘How India can increase generic drugs global market share from 20% to 40%?’ Will have Mr. Tushar Jani, Group Chairman, Cargo service Center, Mr. Murali Krishna, Director, Pharmexcil, Mr. Devang Vyas, Global Logistics Head, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals and Mr. Bharat Bhushan Rathi, Head Distribution and Logistics, Mankind Pharma on the panel. The session will be moderated by Mr Sanjeet, CEO, DDP Group.

All-cargo carrier Air Incheon has continued its expansion with the addition of freighter flights to Kuala Lumpur. The new five-times-per-week flights were launched on July 11 and utilise a Boeing 737-800 freighter. The airline said that the flights leave Incheon International at 11:00pm and arrive at Sepang International at 7:45am the following day. “As a Result, time -sensitive cargo, including e-commerce, express freight, perishable goods, and intermediate goods for global manufacturing companies, can be loaded at Incheon International Airport during the night and delivered to the destination immediately after customs clearance upon arrival in Kuala Lumpur the next morning,” the airline said. Air Incheon said the service would also target dangerous goods that cannot be carried in the bellies of passenger aircraft. “This new cargo route by Air Incheon greatly contributes to the increased export of fresh Korean agricultural products, including popular items like strawberries, which are in high demand in Southeast Asia,” the airline added. The carrier will also utilise road feeder services to transport goods to industrial areas such as Penang to cater for demand from the manufacturing industry for electronic components, factory supplies, and other industrial goods.

Virgin Atlantic Cargo has recently announced a Sustainable Aviation Fuel Certificate (SAFc) programme, designed to help freight forwarders and shippers manage their carbon emissions whilst demonstrating a joint commitment to scaling the SAF industry. Customers participating in the scheme will contribute to the airline’s purchase of SAF, receiving a SAF certificate for the associated scope 3 emissions reductions. Customers will also benefit from detailed insight into their Scope 3 air freight emissions via Virgin Atlantic Cargo’s own air freight carbon calculator. Developed in-house and independently certified, the calculator uses an industry-recognized methodology, and Virgin Atlantic’s actual flight emissions data to provide powerful insights to participating customers, enabling them to take action on their carbon footprint. DB Schenker is the first to participate in the scheme with the purchase of over several thousand tonnes of scope 3 emissions reductions. The global logistics service provider is continuously expanding its SAF-based air freight solutions.

Qatar Aviation Services (QAS) Cargo has received IATA’s Smart Facility Operational Capacity (SFOC) certification for its cargo facility at Hamad International Airport in Doha. QAS Cargo, Qatar Airways Cargo’s ground handling agent, is the first cargo ground handing agent in the Middle East and Africa region to attain the SFOC certification. The audit that was conducted in April included assessing the cargo handling infrastructure, equipment and implementation of procedures at the Cargo Terminal Complex. The IATA audit team validated the operational procedures of QAS Cargo in compliance with a number of IATA Regulations – IATA Cargo Handling Manual, Dangerous Goods Regulations, Unit Load Device Regulations, Temperature Control Regulations, Live Animals Regulations and Perishable Cargo Regulations. Guillaume Halleux, chief officer Cargo at Qatar Airways Cargo, said: “Our growth to becoming the world’s leading air cargo carrier today has been no easy achievement. Our teams have one goal in mind – customer experience. “It is this goal combined with our Next Generation and VISION 2027 strategy through which we have implemented quality procedures in every area of our business. The certification of our hub in Doha reflects the high standards in place to ensure all types of cargo are handled seamlessly and securely, in compliance to all the IATA regulations.”

ESR Group is making significant progress in constructing its Urban Distribution Centre in Delhi. The project consists of two buildings, and construction is underway for both. Building 1 is approximately 30% complete, with the first-floor slab currently being laid out. Scaffolding work is in progress for building 2, which is currently 20% complete. ESR aims to complete the construction of this multilevel distribution centre by the end of 2023. Situated in Alipur, northwest Delhi, the site will enable just-in-time delivery to 2 million customers in Rohini, Shalimar Bagh, Pitampura, Ashok Vihar, and Model Town, all reachable within 20 minutes. The location offers excellent connectivity throughout the city via the Outer Ring Road, just a 5-minute drive from the site, and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway (KMP). It also provides access to the neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab via NH44. The upcoming UER 2 starts from NH 44 at Alipur, close to ESR’s Urban Distribution Centre, will connect Rohini, Mundka, Najafgarh, and Dwarka and end at Delhi–Gurgaon Expressway on National Highway 48 and make IGI airport accessible from this location within 40 minutes.

AI The Game Changer: Embracing the Intelligent Future, is the theme chosen for upcoming 47th Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) convention, which is all set to be held in in Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia from November 23 to November 26, 2023. The Three-day convention will witness participation from air cargo industry experts including airports, airlines, freight forwarders, custom house agents, associations and end users. M Afzal Malbarwala, President had confirmed, “This year’s Annual Convention will happen in Kuala Lumpur.”

India now has the highest number of market authorisations granted by the US Food and Drug Authority (USFDA) so far along with a steady increase in the registration of manufacturing sites registered with the US regulator. Market authorisations are approvals given to Abbreviated New Drug Applications (ANDAs) that allow companies to launch a product in the US market. As per the latest industry data of the USFDA, market authorisations granted to Indian formulations companies with USFDA approvals stood at 6,316, which is highest in comparison to any other country as of April 2023. This includes authorisations granted to India subsidiaries situated overseas. There were 107 market authorisations granted by the US agency for First Time Generics out of which Indian origin companies bagged 41 which shows the `primacy’ of the Indian drug industry, according to R Uday Bhaskar, Director-General. Pharmaceutical Export Promotion Council (Pharmexcil).

The Indian pharmaceutical industry is expected to grow 7-8% in the next financial year to reach $57 billion in valuation by FY25 after registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6%-8% between FY18 and FY23, according to a report by ratings firm CareEdge. In FY23 alone, the market grew 5 per cent year-on-year to $49.78 billion, up from $35.41 billion noted in FY18. The previous 5 years saw an 8 per cent growth in exports and 6 per cent growth in the domestic market, both of which contribute equally to the sector. Although, the export market in developing countries was in recent years marred by shipping constraints due to the Russia Ukraine conflict, a shortage of dollar reserves in African countries and the depreciation of their own currencies, the increased access to healthcare in these countries may drive growth in the long-term. Developed countries remain a promising market for India, with the US alone making up for 30-35 per cent of the total formulation exports. While recently, price corrections in the US caused by market consolidation were noticed, India nevertheless saw a notable increase in US export sales volume which is expected to sustain on the back of upcoming patent cliff (when products go off-patent) opportunities, as per CareEdge. Drugs worth $188 billion are set to go off patent worldwide between 2023-26, presenting the Indian industry with significant opportunities to expand its market share. The industry’s focus on launching specialty and niche products may also aid growth in the US, the report added.

With berry season taking full swing in Africa, Etihad Cargo is on track to transport up to 500 tonnes of this delicious fruit over the coming months. Using its FreshForward system, moving fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, fish, meat and flowers has been simplified. Etihad Cargo bears the distinction of being the first Middle East carrier to be awarded the IATA CEIV Fresh certificate, ensuring that the transportation of fresh produce including dairy, vegetables, meat and fish is transported with the highest care. With the help its extensive road feeder services network, Etihad Cargo is trucking strawberries, blueberries and other fresh berries from Zimbabwe and Cape Town to Johannesburg, from where the perishable cargo will make its way to destinations around the world, including the UAE, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Bangkok, via its Abu Dhabi hub.

Air China Cargo’s handling business has extended its collaboration with Lufthansa Cargo through the signing of freighter ground handling and cargo handling contracts at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) in China. Under these new agreements, Air China Cargo will provide ground services for Lufthansa Cargo at CTU, including freighter ramp operations, cargo warehousing, aircraft services and crew services. “We are delighted to extend our partnership with LCAG to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, following years of successful cooperation in Beijing,” said Huang Jian, deputy managing director of the cargo terminal business unit of Air China Cargo. “This collaboration marks a significant milestone for both parties as we expand our presence to another city. We are excited to explore new cooperative opportunities with LCAG in China and continue delivering exceptional services to our customers.” Air China Cargo and Lufthansa Cargo have a longstanding relationship, which has spanned over 30 years in Beijing. Air China Cargo currently operates six cargo terminals across mainland China, including Beijing, Tianjin, Chengdu Shuangliu, Chengdu Tianfu, Chongqing, and Hangzhou. The company serves over 60 customer carriers at these airports.