Category Archives: International

Nippon Express South Asia & Oceania (Nippon Express) and Future Supply Chain Solutions (FSC) have signed a Business Collaboration Agreement (BCA) to jointly explore growth opportunities for new and existing customers based on their strategic partnership and expand revenues for both the companies. The two companies will jointly start the business collaboration from January 2020. The partnership will jointly leverage Nippon Express’ competency in diverse sectors for the Indian market. FSC will demonstrate its 3PL and express logistics operations, attracting potential new business opportunities from Nippon Express’ existing Japanese and MNC clients. Both the companies have agreed to formalise a steering committee and Nippon Express will depute its representatives to operate alongside FSC’s management.

Bollore Logistics India has signed a contract with CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia for aircraft engine transportation. The contract also includes customs clearance documentation at the Dubai Airshow. The contract was signed between Karthigeyan Ramaswamy, Managing Director, CFM Aircraft Engine Support South Asia and Philippe Lortal, CEO – Middle East & South Asia, Bolloré Logistics. “The contract signed is for importation into India including custom clearance at Delhi airport. The contract also includes services related to re-export from India which includes outbound export custom process at Khurja to re-export back to the origin. Bolloré Logistics is also nominated for the International Freight Forwarding to various origins from Delhi” said Ramaswamy.

The weekly AS8 is set to directly link the South-East Asian economies of Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia with the India Subcontinent markets of India and Pakistan. The AS8 will be characterised by its direct port connectivity from Laem Chabang to Pipavav, Port Qasim and Karachi. With this, shippers with India and Pakistan bound shipments from Thailand will find the AS8 service a faster alternative to relaying cargoes through transhipments. AS8 will start sailing from Laem Chabang on December 16, 2019 with the following port rotation: Laem Chabang-Singapore – Port Klang (North Port) – Port Klang (West Port) – Pipavav – Port Qasim – Karachi.

SpiceJet and Gulf Air have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to examine areas of potential synergy, including looking at co-ordinating cargo services, interline or codeshare agreements, shared engineering services and pilot training. The MoU was signed by Ajay Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, SpiceJet, and Krešimir Kučko, Chief Executive, Gulf Air. Singh comments, “This agreement is going to play a very important role for airline’s next phase of growth as we continue to explore the innumerable opportunities around us.” SpiceJet’s cargo division, SpiceXpress, took delivery of its first 737-800 Boeing Converted Freighter (BCF) earlier this autumn. The standard-body freighter, the first 737-800BCF to be operated in south Asia, was leased from NGF Alpha Limited, a division of Spectre Cargo Solutions.

In order to take the ease of doing business initiatives to next level, customs department is rolling out the concept of faceless assessment of cargo across the country in next few months. The consignments will be assessed by virtual group irrespective of where the Bill of Entry is filed. Baswaraj Nalegave, Commissioner of Customs (City and ICD), Bengaluru, says, “We are moving ahead with the concept of faceless assessment,” in adding, “From now onwards, in a phased manner, we will ensure that the assessment of cargo need not be done at the same place where the Bill of Entry is filed,” he stated. “We have already started the pilot in Bangalore. So, all machinery will be assessed by a virtual group no matter where the Bill of Entry is filed. In Chennai, it’s already being done. It’s a matter of a few months before it is rolled out across the country,” he noted.

Sichuan Airlines (3U) is commencing freighter services from Delhi to Chengdu, China effective from November 27, 2019. This service will be operated with AB330-200F which offers maximum payload capacity of 60 tonne. After the inaugural flight, the freighter will operate twice weekly service every Monday and Friday to enhance their frequency to four weekly services Sichuan Airlines has built a world-class fleet of 152 aircrafts that connects five continents, improving its network capability and opening more international routes to build a bridge between Western China and the world.

The 45th Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI) annual convention was held in Phuket, Thailand. With the theme of ‘End-to-end logistics – A way forward’, the 45th annual ACAAI convention saw an eminent presence of the industry experts from various quarters of the world under one roof. The chief guest of the evening was Fitsum Abadi, Managing Director, Ethiopian Cargo & Logistics Services and the event was also graced by Anis Chakravarty, Partner and Leader, Global Transfer Pricing Center, Deloitte. The convention was formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp and release of convention souvenir by the chief guest Abadi, Sunil Arora, President, Air Cargo Agents Association of India (ACAAI), Anil Vazirani, Chairman, ACAAI Convention 2019 and all other dignitaries.

China Airlines Cargo has announced Group Concorde as the general cargo sales agent for its new Mumbai freighter service starting on November 16. Prithviraj Singh Chug, Director, Group Concorde, said, “The pharma business is the airlines target business for us and it’s important to connect the pharma agents and their shippers with the airline. CI being CEIV certified will have the edge in Mumbai market to carry the goods and safely deliver across Europe, Asia, Oceania & Americas.” The airline will operate four flights a week, two per week coming from Taipei to Mumbai and going forward to Amsterdam, and two per week coming from Amsterdam and going to Taipei.

Dubai-based DP World has launched two services – MIAX (Middle East–India–Africa Express) and IEX (South India Europe Express) to connect its terminals in Nhava Sheva, Chennai and Kochi with European and South African markets. MIAX will connect Nhava Sheva International Container Terminal (NSICT) with West and South Africa; while the IEX will connect Chennai Container Terminal (CCT) and India Gateway Terminal (IGT) with Europe. Rizwan Soomar, CEO & MD, DP World Subcontinent, said “The launch of IEX and MIAX will create stronger opportunities for EXIM cargo and for Indian manufacturers to cater to global markets.”

Gateway Distriparks (GDL) has entered into a share purchase agreement to sell its second CFS in Chennai, held in its wholly owned subsidiary – Chandra CFS & Terminal Operators (Chandra CFS) to Team Global Logistics (TeamGlobal), for a consideration of Rs 47 crore and an amount equal to earnings before depreciation and amortisation for a period of April 1, 2019 to closing date. Further, TeamGlobal will also be placing Rs2 crore in an escrow account as a commitment fee, which will be adjusted as part of the purchase consideration on closing. The transaction is expected to close in 45 days. Chandra CFS is strategically located between Chennai & Ennore ports. For FY 2018-19, Chandra handled around 12,000 TEUs last year. The company posted a Total Income of Rs9 crore, EBITDA of Rs1.33 crore and loss before tax of Rs0.62 crore. GDL will continue to operate its first CFS in Chennai where it handled over 87,000 TEUs last year.