FIATA AND MEMBERS
VLA (Vietnam) – VLA Whitebook 2018 reviewed the Vietnam logistics services industry
Vietnam is one of the most dynamic emerging countries in Asia-Pacific region. According to the Logistics Performance Index (LPI) Report 2018 released by the World Bank in July 2018, Vietnam was ranked 39 out of 160 countries surveyed, up 25 from the previous rank in 2016 (64/160). In the ASEAN region, Vietnam ranked third after Singapore and Thailand. Vietnam ranks first in the emerging markets and the highest ranking in the low-income group.
Towards the effective implementation of the National Logistics Action Plan and on the occasion of its 25th founding Anniversary, the Vietnam Logistics Business Association (VLA) publish the VLA Whitebook 2018, which aims at providing in a full and most reliable manner information and data on the Association in particular and the Vietnam logistics services industry in general, and specific recommendations for the development of the industry in Vietnam presently and in the future.
The VLA Whitebook 2018 soft copy is available here (bit.ly/vlawb2018<http://bit.ly/vlawb2018>) for the free download.
GLOBAL FORWARDERS
U.S. and China ‘have much to lose’ if trade fight not sorted out, DHL Group says
The DHL Global Trade Barometer, freight forwarder’s leading indicator of trade is still positive, but growth has slowed with ocean freight showing the most decline.
The trade outlooks for the U.S. and China are positive, but slowing as tariffs and other disputes plague the two countries, says DP DHL Group (Xetra: DPW).
For more details, please visit: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/dp-dhl-trade-barometer
Forwarders and airlines eye tougher capacity negotiations for 2019
Forwarders and airlines are looking to start negotiations for services next year, and are figuring out how much capacity to book.
After record high demand – and prices – in 2017, forwarders were keen to lock-in capacity in advance this year, while airlines were equally keen to hold some space unblocked to capitalise on late-booked cargo when spot prices were high.
For more details, please visit: https://theloadstar.co.uk/forwarders-airlines-eye-tougher-capacity-negotiations-2019/
Air France-KLM updates online cargo booking tools
Air France-KLM updated its online cargo booking system as part of its ongoing effort to standardize processes since the 2004 merger of the airlines. The airline is in the midst of a three-year program to update the carrier’s legacy data systems, The Loadstar reported.
The airline released an application programming interface (API) that will be used for its MyCargo online freight booking system.
For more details, please visit: https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/air-france-klm-online-booking-freight-forwarders/542672/
Brokers and forwarders: West Coast action not just tariffs
This morning, Susquehanna transportation equities analyst Bascome Majors issued a Port Report confirming what many suspected: that West Coast port volumes in October were extraordinarily strong, up more than 12.4% year-over-year.
The flood of Asian exports hitting Los Angeles (+25% YOY) and Seattle (+23.6% YOY) are thought to be driven by a combination of freight pulled forward ahead of January 1 China tariffs and strong consumer demand.
For more details, please visit: https://www.freightwaves.com/news/brokers-and-forwarders-west-coast-action-not-just-tariffs
Committees are cornerstone of pan-African trade dream, forum hears
The dream of a single African market where goods flow easily from the port of Cape Town to the markets of Marrakesh came within grasp in March 2018 when the region’s leaders signed an agreement to begin establishing a continent-wide free trade area.
But achieving the dream of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) requires more than goodwill.
For more details, please visit: https://unctad.org/en/pages/newsdetails.aspx?OriginalVersionID=1938
Trump threatens to shut the Mexico border, but California companies say that would create chaos
When President Trump issued yet another ultimatum to Mexico to stop a caravan of would-be refugees early Monday, he coupled it with an ominous threat: «We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!»
In Torrance, Karen Quintana, president of the Los Angeles Customs Brokers and Freight Forwarders Association, was perplexed. «He can’t mean trade as well,» she said. «He just meant people, right?»
For more details, please visit: http://www.sfexaminer.com/trump-threatens-shut-mexico-border-california-companies-say-create-chaos/
Bonded terminals as extortion bays
Last July, some private bonded terminals were forcibly converted to holding bays in Lagos for empty containers by the government in order to ease traffic gridlock at the Apapa Oshodi and Wharf roads.
However, some of the facilities have become a new place to make illegal money. Freight forwarders using some of the bonded terminals said they were being forced to pay at least N100,000 before empty containers could be dropped for shipping lines, which own the containers.
For more details, please visit: https://www.newtelegraphng.com/2018/11/bonded-terminals-as-extortion-bays/
SEA FREIGHT
UNCTAD Examines Fifty Years of Shipping
The major events that have marked the past of maritime transport – and issues that are likely to forge its future – are examined in a special publication, marking 50 years since UNCTAD first published its longest standing annual report, the Review of Maritime Transport.
The new commemorative publication offers a forward-looking assessment of issues likely to shape shipping in the future and explores fresh directions in research and analysis, as well as examining the history of the Review of Maritime Transport over the past 50 years. It comprises reflections by seven eminent guest essayists, chosen for their expertise and roles in the maritime transport industry.
For more details, please visit: https://unctad.org/en/pages/PublicationWebflyer.aspx?publicationid=2289
Asia-ECNA box rates likely to remain relatively strong
Tighter space conditions have raised the freight rate premium on Asia-East Coast North America (ECNA) services, with future capacity decisions likely be dictated by the fallout from the 1 January US-China tariffs, according to analysis by Drewry.
As reported in previous analysis of the Asia-West Coast North America trade, Drewry said the transpacific market has this year been thrown into a state of confusion thanks to the US-China trade war, «creating an unpredictable playground for carriers and shippers alike as normal shipping patterns have deviated somewhat to instead follow each new tariff raising deadline».
For more details, please visit: https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Asia-ECNA-box-rates-likely-to-remain-relatively-strong/73310.htm#.W_6SpGj0mF4
Ocean rates drop as Asia-Europe box peak season ends
Container lines hoping for a spike in Asia-Europe westbound freight rates as shippers stock up inventory ahead of the holiday season seem certain to be disappointed. And, with spot rates failing to show any sign upward momentum this month, some analysts expect bearish spot rates to put downward pressure on annual end-of year contract negotiations between carriers and shippers.
The composite index of the World Container Index, assessed by Drewry, dropped 4.7% in the third week of November, with Shanghai-Rotterdam rates tumbling $71, week on week, to reach $1,543 per feu on 22 November and Drewry expecting «marginal drops in rates next week». Freightos, however, said the continued failure of spot rates to improve on the Asia-Europe lane this month was more significant. «Peak season is over for the China-Europe lane,» the digital freight marketplace declared earlier this week.
For more details, please visit: https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Ocean-rates-drop-as-Asia-Europe-box-peak-season-ends/73294.htm#.W_6R42j0mF4
Russia to invest $4 billion to build Arctic port along Northern Sea Route
Plans for building a sea port in on one of Russia’s northernmost areas have been brought back to life. The $4 billion project in the Nenets region is key to the country’s strategic plan to open shipping in the Arctic. The project has reportedly been included in Moscow’s list of major investment projects on transport and infrastructure development. The new port, which will be located in the small Nenets settlement of Indiga, will be operated year-round. The annual cargo turnover is set to reach 70 million tons. The new northern port will require the creation of necessary land-based infrastructure. The project is planned to include construction of a new railroad connecting Indiga with the Western Siberian city of Surgut.
For more details, please visit: https://www.rt.com/business/445042-arctic-route-port-mega-project/
Major Container Shipping Lines Propose an Association of Interest to Freight Forwarders and Shippers
With data sharing and mining, not to mention cyber-crime topics that are particularly hot at the moment, comes the news that five of the world’s largest container shipping companies have announced plans to create an association with the purpose of paving the way for digitalisation, standardisation and interoperability in the container shipping industry.
News which will doubtlessly stimulate interest from shippers, freight forwarders and global regulators alike.
For more details, please visit: https://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/major-container-shipping-lines-propose-an-association-of-interest-to-freight-forwarders-and-shippers_9539
ROAD FREIGHT
IRU is concerned about continued roadblocks in France
IRU calls a halt to the increasingly worrying situation of roadblocks in France which is hampering the free movement of goods by road.
The so-called «gilets jaunes» (yellow vests) protesters continue to block roads and industrial centres causing freight delivery delays and distress for drivers. Waiting times and unnecessary detours will eventually translate into contractual penalties and, thus, additional costs for transport operators.
For more details, please visit: https://www.iru.org/resources/newsroom/iru-concerned-about-continued-roadblocks-france
First China to Europe TIR truck secures trade flow in record time
The first TIR truck transport from China to Europe started its 7,000 km journey at the Khorgos border, entering Kazakhstan and travelling through Russia and Belarus to Poland in just 13 days – with a door-to-door cost and delivery time that is competitive with both air and rail.
This TIR transport initiative is a joint effort between IRU and global leading logistics companies, including CEVA Logistics, Shanghai Jet-rail International Transportation, and Alblas International Logistics as the operator. The truck left China on 13 November 2018, arriving securely at its destination in Poland without any disruption or customs issues on November 26.
For more details, please visit: https://www.iru.org/resources/newsroom/first-china-europe-tir-truck-secures-trade-flow-record-time
RAIL FREIGHT
Italy launches first high-speed rail freight service
Mercitalia Rail, the rail freight arm of Italian state railway Ferrorie dello Stato Italiane, has launched what it claims is Italy’s first overnight high-speed rail service for cargo.
The weekday service, ‘Mercitalia Fast’, connects Caserta in the Naples region and Bologna in northern Italy. It offers loading capacity per train equivalent to 18 TIR trucks and operates at an average speed of 180 km/h, with journey times of three and a half hours.
For more details, please visit: https://www.lloydsloadinglist.com/freight-directory/news/Italy-launches-first-high-speed-rail-freight-service/73261.htm#.W_6UQmj0mF4
New direct railway link Barcelona-Lyon
A new direct railway line has been established between Barcelona in Spain and Lyon in France. The weekly service is an important addition to the network connecting the port of Barcelona to the hinterland.
Trains on the railway connection will call on the Barcelona Europe South Terminal (BEST), which is part of Hutchison Ports. The southern gateway especially serves import cargo from Asia and export cargo from the Center North of the peninsula. For many trade lanes, transit times through this port are faster, leading to a reduction in inventory cost and sea freight, the company pointed out.
For more details, please visit: https://www.railfreight.com/railfreight/2018/11/23/new-direct-railway-link-barcelona-lyon/
INNOVATION
President of ACHAG admonishes freight forwarders to work to integrity
The President of ACHAG said, he is pleased with the progress that has been made by the Paperless initiative saying it has reduced cost and improved the ease of doing business.
Yaw Kyei, admitted that, although there are some challenges associated with other stakeholders in the paperless system, some responsibility should be taken by freight forwarders.
For more details, please visit: https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/President-of-ACHAG-admonishes-freight-forwarders-to-work-to-integrity-703920
Warning to Freight Forwarders to Ensure Security Before Issuing House Bills of Lading
A warning this week comes from 100% online freight forwarder iContainers regarding yet another fraud risk to shippers, consignees and their agents. This one concerns what are termed ‘switch’ bills of lading, that is House Bs/L which have been altered from the shipping line issued original set, often to hide the supplier details from the consignee.
The move is designed to protect shippers from their end use customer dealing with their own supplier direct but, as with all House B/L situations, the possibility of fraud is ever present.
For more details, please visit: https://www.handyshippingguide.com/shipping-news/warning-to-freight-forwarders-to-ensure-security-before-issuing-house-bills-of-lading_9507
Modern Terminals embraces Maersk’s blockchain maritime database to speed up shipping
Hong Kong’s second-biggest container port manager has signed on to a blockchain solution for documenting logistics data developed by the world’s largest shipping line, as a battle looms over the technology used to keep track of global shipping, responsible for 90 per cent of global trade.
Modern Terminals Limited has become the sole Hong Kong participant of TradeLens, a blockchain platform developed by Danish shipping behemoth AP Moeller-Maersk Group with International Business Machines Corporation (IBM), scheduled for a roll-out at the end of this year.
For more details, please visit: https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/modern-terminals-embraces-maersks-blockchain-maritime-database-to-speed-up-shipping/
Topics
VLA (Vietnam) – VLA Whitebook 2018 reviewed the Vietnam logistics services industry
U.S. and China ‘have much to lose’ if trade fight not sorted out, DHL Group says
Forwarders and airlines eye tougher capacity negotiations for 2019
Air France-KLM updates online cargo booking tools
Brokers and forwarders: West Coast action not just tariffs
Committees are cornerstone of pan-African trade dream, forum hears
Trump threatens to shut the Mexico border, but California companies say that would create chaos
Bonded terminals as extortion bays
UNCTAD Examines Fifty Years of Shipping
Asia-ECNA box rates likely to remain relatively strong
Ocean rates drop as Asia-Europe box peak season ends
Russia to invest $4 billion to build Arctic port along Northern Sea Route
Major Container Shipping Lines Propose an Association of Interest to Freight Forwarders and Shippers
IRU is concerned about continued roadblocks in France
First China to Europe TIR truck secures trade flow in record time
Italy launches first high-speed rail freight service
New direct railway link Barcelona-Lyon
President of ACHAG admonishes freight forwarders to work to integrity
Warning to Freight Forwarders to Ensure Security Before Issuing House Bills of Lading
Warning to Freight Forwarders to Ensure Security Before Issuing House Bills of Lading
Modern Terminals embraces Maersk’s blockchain maritime database to speed up shipping