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Keeling predicts little Xmas rush for air freight

9/3/2010

Julian Keeling predicts "little or no Christmas 'rush' for air freight as the 2010 Holiday season approaches. The chief executive of Consolidators International, Inc. (CII), says "with U.S. unemployment hovering around the 10 per cent mark, housing sharply lower, an anemic stock market and manufacturers just marking time, air cargo will show little growth for the remainder of the year. Retailers are taking their cue from shoppers' reluctance to open their pocketbooks and have become very miserly in continuing to build up inventory."

Qantas Freight will offer courier and baggage delivery services

9/3/2010

Qantas Freight announced it had begun offering courier and baggage delivery services to Qantas and third party customers under the new brand name Qantas Courier.

Executive Manager Qantas Freight, Mr Stephen Cleary, said Qantas Courier had been established to reposition the Australian and New Zealand operations following the sale of Qantas� investment in DPEX Worldwide.

Oregon International Air Freight Co. and OIA Global Loggistics-SCM, Inc. acquired by LDI LTD

9/3/2010

LDI Ltd., LLC, a private holding company in Indianapolis with interests in distribution and logistics, announced that it has recapitalized and acquired majority control of Portland-based Oregon International Air Freight Co. and OIA Global Logistics-SCM, Inc. (collectively �OIA�). OIA is a leading international provider of logistics services, including freight forwarding, supply chain management, turn-key contract warehousing and packaging design and fulfillment.

Combined WWPC power in historical airlift to China

9/3/2010

Oy Procargo - Professional Cargo Care Ltd, WWPC Member for Finland and Ocean Knight Shipping, WWPC Member for Shanghai/China, combined forces to arrange for a safe and ontime delivery of a 34 tons metallic roll plus other equipment from Finland to a paperfactory near Shanghai in China.

Hactl provides staunch support to Midex Airlines

9/3/2010

Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) has announced that Midex Airlines has appointed Hactl�s one-stop-shop service for cargo ground handling at Hong Kong International Airport, including physical cargo handling, air cargo documentation, ramp handling and crew bus services.

Shipper PSL sees dry freight near all-time low next year

9/3/2010

Freight rates for dry bulk carriers could tumble near historic lows next year as new ships flood the market and iron ore demand in China weakens, said the head of Precious Shipping.

GAC boosts presence in the Baltic Sea region with acquisition of leading Finnish ship agency

9/3/2010

The GAC Group has strengthened its Baltic Sea region coverage with the amicable acquisition of leading Finnish ship agent, John Nurminen Navis Oy (JNN).

Kazakhstan diversifies grain export markets

9/3/2010

Kazakhstan, the world's seventh-largest wheat exporter last season, has invested heavily in its grain infrastructure to increase access to new markets and reduce its dependence on expensive supplies across Russia.

Kazakh grain, though of high quality, is often uncompetitive against supplies from Russia and Ukraine due to the high cost of delivering it to port. Exporters frequently encounter a shortage of rail cars and can incur high fees leasing Russian wagons.

Dockwise announces $37 Million in heavy marine transport and engineering awards

9/3/2010

Dockwise Ltd. announces 12 awards for Heavy Marine Transport (HMT) and engineering projects that have recently been secured by its subsidiary Dockwise Shipping with a total contract value of almost USD 37 million.

Dockwise was awarded an engineering contract to provide a FEM (Finite Element Model) analysis for LoneStar Offshore to verify the structural integrity of the SS LoneStar during transit onboard a Dockwise T-class vessel in Q3. In Q3 2010, Dockwise will transport the Acergy Antares, an accommodation/work barge from Acergy Shipping Limited from Singapore to Port Gentil, Gabon.

Ex-Yugo states to form joint cargo railway firm

9/3/2010

Three ex-Yugoslav republics will next week form a joint railway company, aiming to win back some of the cargo market in central Europe lost during the ethnic wars of the 1990s. In a rare display of close business cooperation, Slovenia, Croatia and Serbia will set up the joint venture company in Belgrade on Sept. 8, Croatia's transport ministry told Reuters.

Kansas City Southern says post-storm volumes surge

9/3/2010

Kansas City Southern said that it expects its second-half revenue to increase almost 20 percent due to rebounding freight volumes, providing what it characterized as a "very strong finish" to the year.

DB Schenker Rail to invest in new freight cars and locomotives

9/3/2010

DB Schenker Rail, the Deutsche Bahn freight operator, will invest approx. EUR 410 million primarily in new freight cars and locomotives throughout Europe this year. "This is a record amount which we plan to invest at exactly those points where there is increasing customer demand for our transport services and where modern equipment is required," explained Dr. Karl-Friedrich Rausch, Member of the Management Board of DB Mobility Logistics AG, responsible for Transportation and Logistics. The fleet modernization process currently concentrates on freight cars for the coal and steel sector and for the chemicals and automotive industries.

CN gearing up for fall grain harvest

9/3/2010

The Canadian harvest is getting underway and CN is ready to meet the demand. CN's objective is to move this year's crop more reliably than it ever has before. And CN has launched a Scheduled Grain Plan to do just that.

Harsco receives new rail equipment orders totaling million

9/3/2010

Worldwide industrial services and engineered products company Harsco Corporation (NYSE:HSC) announced new orders totaling $13 million for its Harsco Rail unit, including orders from Bangladesh and Liberia, as the Company continues to expand the international market penetration of its Harsco Rail business in parallel with new orders from the United States.

Southeastern Freight Lines provides customers new estimated time of delivery service

9/3/2010

Southeastern Freight Lines, a regional less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation services provider, is introducing a service feature new to the LTL industry: Estimated Time of Delivery (ETD). Southeastern can now estimate the delivery of a shipment within a two-hour window and provide this information to customers via the Internet, PDAs and mobile phones.

China's world factory: little Christmas order cheer

9/3/2010

In late summer, production lines across China's "world factory" usually crank up to meet a surge in Christmas orders. Activity this year, however, has been relatively modest on weak Western demand.

World trade grows by 25 pct in 2nd quarter

9/3/2010

World trade continued to rebound strongly in the first half of this year, rising by over a quarter from year-ago levels, with emerging economies showing particularly powerful export growth, World Trade Organization figures showed.

Trade typically grows and contracts at much faster rates than the overall economy, but the WTO data confirm the strength of the global recovery in the first half of this year.

Siam Cement sees good demand, ASEAN expansion

9/3/2010

Siam Cement, Thailand's leading industrial conglomerate, plans to invest at least 20 billion baht ($639 million) at home and abroad over the next five years to expand its cement business and upgrade products, Pramote Techasupatkul, president of SCG Cement Co. Ltd., told Reuters in an interview.

Southeast Asia drinks sector sparkles

9/3/2010

Global drinks firms, thirsty for acquisitions to expand their offerings and reach, are eyeing assets in Southeast Asia, as tough regulatory hurdles quash their interest in giants China and India.

Some deals are already in the bag, with Kirin Holdings recently snapping up a stake in 127-year old Singapore-listed Fraser & Neave(F&N) and Asahi's $322 million purchase of Australian fruit juice maker P&N, to combine with its Schweppes drinks unit.

CMA CGM Group first-half 2010 results

9/3/2010

The Board of Directors of France-based CMA CGM, the world�s third largest container shipping Group, met under the chairmanship of Jacques R. Saad� to review the financial statements for the six months ending 30 June 2010.

The recovery in business that began to emerge in late 2009, gained further momentum during the first six months of 2010.

MOL starts safety campaign

9/3/2010

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. announced the launch of the semiannual Safety Campaign for all MOL-operated vessels. During the campaign, the company will publicize about the MOL goal of �four zeroes�- zero serious marine incidents, zero oil pollution, zero fatal accidents, and zero cargo damage.

Hamburg S�d announces general rate increase for East Coast US/Canadian cargo shipments to Europe

9/3/2010

Hamburg S�d announced today that effective October 15, 2010, a General Rate Increase (GRI) will be applied to all cargo moving from the East Coasts of the United States and Canada to Europe.

Aagaard named new Global Head of Aid & Relief at Damco

9/3/2010

Claus Aagaard has been appointed Global Head of Aid & Relief in a newly created role. Claus will assume his new duties 1 September 2010 and ultimately be based in South Africa.

Having worked in the industry for many years, Claus Aagaard brings extensive Aid & Relief experience with him and comes from a position as Manager for Aid & Relief Logistics with TNT FM/Geodis Wilson.

Vitran Corp. appoints Lutes to Board of Directors

9/3/2010

Vitran Corporation Inc. a North American transportation and supply chain firm, announced that Jim D. Lutes, CA, CF, President of J.D. Lutes & Associates Inc., has joined Vitran's Board of Directors effective immediately. The addition of Mr. Lutes represents the fourth new member to join Vitran's Board in the last five years in the Company's continuing efforts to refresh the Board on a periodic basis.

Penske Logistics opens new Manaus, Brazil warehouse

9/3/2010

Penske Logistics has opened a new 110,000-square-foott (11,000-square-meter) Manaus, Brazil factory distribution center, located at Av Torquato Tapaj�s, 7503.

Salson Logistics chooses TMW optimization software

9/3/2010

TMW Systems, Inc., the leading provider of enterprise transportation software for the logistics and trucking industries, announced that Salson Logistics has adopted three TMW Optimization Software modules. Already using TMWSuite software for their operations, Salson will now add integrated IDSC Netwise, IDSC TripAlert and IDSC ExpertFuel solutions to improve their freight network productivity and efficiency, lower operating costs and enhance customer service.

China's CHEC in $600 million Venezuela port project

9/3/2010

Venezuela is refurbishing its main port, Puerto Cabello, with Chinese help at a cost of $600 million after decades of under-investment and spurred on by a scandal over rotting food, officials said.

China Harbor Engineering Company (CHEC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company , will be in charge of the project to build a new container terminal. The first stage of work is estimated to cost some $600 million.

Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor handles record-setting project cargo

9/3/2010

The Port of Indiana-Burns Harbor is currently handling one of the biggest single cargoes in the port�s 40-year history. A 388-ton electrical transformer recently arrived on the ship �Beluga Recognition� from Cordoba, Spain, and was transloaded at the port onto the largest railcar ever to enter the facility.

PD Ports shows delicate touch with wind farm units

9/3/2010

Moving 75 ton nacelle units from a ship to a specialist vehicle took some delicate touches from PD Ports� experienced stevedoring team at the Port of Immingham.

Pacific Trade Weekly

9/3/2010

If you haven�t heard the name Ichiro Ozawa, you soon may. He has declared himself an opponent to Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan in the upcoming September election.

Ozawa who leaves a trail of scandals behind him was once leader of the Democratic Party of Japan where he became embroiled in a campaign funding scandal.

Harwich International welcomes largest jack-up vessel

9/3/2010

Further evidence of the crucial role played by Harwich International Port in the development of the offshore renewables industry has been provided by the maiden call of the MPI Resolution, the largest jack-up vessel seen at the port to date.

The world's first purpose-built vessel for installing offshore wind turbines, foundations and transition pieces, the MPI Resolution weighs in at 14,085 gross tonnes and has a length in excess of 130 metres.

Panama�s Cabinet Council approves new Canal pricing structure

9/3/2010

The Cabinet Council of the Republic of Panama approved a proposal to modify the Panama Canal pricing structure, following a recommendation from the Panama Canal Authority (ACP) Board of Directors.