Indonesia's logistics industry to grow at 15.2%

Frost & Sullivan is expecting the transportation & logistics market to grow with expected CAGR 15.2 per cent in 2015. Gopal R, global vice president, transportation and logistics practice at Frost & Sullivan said that the industry is set to record strong double digit growth over the forecast period due to the continuous growth of the Indonesian economy driven by resilient domestic demand.

Gopal R is expecting strong private consumption growth, higher trade growth, lower external financing cost & oil price and infrastructure development to continue drive logistics industry growth in 2015. However, he said that rising labour wages will force businesses, including transportation & logistics to incur lower profit margin. He also said that the limitations to invest optimally in logistics infrastructure such as ports, airports and roads will hamper freight movement.

Next Generation Of Automated Container Handling Inaugurated In Surabaya, IndonesiaLamong Bay Terminal

On the morning of Friday, May 22nd, the Lamong Bay Terminal in Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia, was inaugurated by the President of Indonesia and a group of distinguished officials. It was an historic moment for Indonesia, an important milestone in the country’s transport development program that is improving the movement of goods through its vast waterways. Lamong Bay Terminal’s automated container handling system was provided by Konecranes.

The newly inaugurated Lamong Bay Terminal is the jewel in the crown of Indonesian state-owned terminal operator PT Pelabuhan Indonesia III (Persero), “Pelindo III”. Its automated container handling system, provided by Konecranes, consists of 20 Automated Stacking Cranes (ASCs), Remote Operating Stations (ROSs), and associated container yard infrastructure. Konecranes also provided 10 Ship-to-Shore (STS) cranes and 5 straddle carriers. Hand-over of the automated container blocks is proceeding smoothly. Konecranes is providing expert engineering support on-site.

Alitalia to end deal with Air France-KLM in 2017

Italy's Alitalia announced it will not renew its partnership and joint venture agreements with Air France-KLM when the deal expires in 2017.

The partnership, writes Radiocor press agency, concerns the passenger services of the airlines between France, Italy and the Netherlands, along with marketing, the sale and distribution of Alitalia's cargo belly services operated by Air France-KLM. The deals date back to 2009 and 2010.

Qatar Airways starts A350 service to Changi, Singapore

Qatar Airways became the first airline to operate the world’s newest aircraft to Singapore and the Asia Pacific region on Monday with the inaugural A350 XWB service arriving at Singapore's Changi Airport.

Qatar Airways, as the global launch customer for the A350 XWB, became the first airline to operate the world’s newest aircraft to Singapore and the Asia-Pacific region on Monday, with the inaugural A350 XWB service arriving in Singapore Changi Airport.

Vietnam's Logistics Sector Faces Serious Labour Shortages

Thousands of logistics entrepreneurs are struggling with a serious shortage of employees since a rapid increase of services demands, says the Viet Nam Logistics Institute (VNLI) in an article by the VietNamNet Bridge.

There are roughly around 300,000 entrepreneurs involved in logistics services in Vietnam, providing jobs for nearly 1.5 million employees of whom 40 per cent are from Ho Chi Minh City. According to VNLI, these employees could only meet 40 per cent of the sector's demand, so the country will face a serious shortage of workers in the next three years.

Alibaba Invests in Chinese Logistics Company YTO Express

Alibaba has made a strategic investment in Chinese logistics company YTO Express to help both businesses improve logistics efficiency for their customers.

Alibaba Group takes a minority stake in Shanghai YTO Express (Logistics). Both companies will cooperate in developing optimal logistics solutions for China in order to raise operational efficiency in the industry.

YTO Express is one of 14 logistics partners that work closely with Cainiao, the logistics affiliate of Alibaba Group. Cainiao and YTO Express will work together to enhance the industry’s logistics management capabilities and international and rural delivery services. This will in turn raise the bar on service quality and user experience for merchants, consumers and logistics companies.

Boeing, TUI Group Finalize Order for 787-9 Dreamliner

Boeing (NYSE: BA) and TUI Group, one of the world's largest integrated leisure travel companies, have finalized an order for one 787-9 Dreamliner with an option for one further 787-9. The order is valued at $257 millionat current list prices. TUI Group also announced that it will substitute two unfilled orders for 787-8s for two 787-9s.

The European leisure group will operate a fleet of 13 787-8s from this summer and with today's announcement will add three 787-9s to its fleet within the next three years.

APL Logistics Opens New Container Freight Station in Jakarta

APL Logistics announced the opening of a new container freight station (CFS) at the Tungya Collins Terminal in Cakung, North Jakarta.

The new CFS extends APL Logistics’ footprint in Indonesia where it offers export consolidation and warehousing services. It also complements APL Logistics’ existing facilities across Asia as a sourcing hub for both international and domestic distribution.

Maersk Completing Order of 10 Container Megaships

Maersk Line, the world’s biggest container-shipping operator by capacity, is completing an order of 10 container megaships from Korea’s Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering Co. worth more than $1.5 billion, two people directly involved with the matter said.

It will be the first time since 2011 that Maersk Line, a unit of the Danish shipping and oil conglomerate A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, returns to the market for ships of this size. Back then, it placed an order with DSME for 20 so-called Triple-E ships, which carry in excess of 18,000 containers each. The last two vessels from that order will be delivered to Maersk by July.

CMA-CGM takes India logistics stake

The CMA CGM Group, one of the world's leading global containers shipping companies, is pleased to announce that it has taken a strategic stake in the 25-years old company LCL Logistix, one of India's logistics leaders, via the Group's subsidiary specialized in freight forwarding and logistics solutions.

CMA CGM LOG reinforces its position in India and will leverage LCL Logistix's Indian network as well as its presence in Canada, in the United States and in East Africa to accelerate its development. Thanks to this strategic stake, CMA CGM LOG expands both its product offering and its geographic coverage, including in emerging countries where logistics solutions demand is high

More cargo red ink for Air France KLM

The Air France KLM Group reported cargo revenue of €625 million for Q1 ending March 31, 2015 – a drop of 7.5 percent over the same period last year. As a result, the business segment saw its operating result worsen from minus €34 million to minus €63 million compared to Q1 2014.

 

The company said freighter capacity was reduced 9.6 percent during the quarter in response to what it described as "weak global trade and structural air cargo industry overcapacity". Despite an increase of 1.2 percent in belly space, revenue per tonne-kilometer fell 11.3 percent overall compared to the same period last year.

Hamburg Süd expects “higher result” in 2015

Hamburg Süd reports a "modest 2.3 percent" increase in volume to 3.375 million TEU in 2014. The ocean carrier says it achieved a "positive, albeit less than satisfactory result" from liner services despite difficult market conditions.

Capital expenditure was €348 million last year, 23 percent lower than 2013, and mainly comprised deposits and final payments for 10 ships of between 4,800 and 9,600 TEU. Another three 'Cap San' newbuilds (right) are scheduled for delivery in 2015.

QATAR AIRWAYS set to expand its USA NETWORK with the addition of three new routes

Qatar Airways announces the next phase of its USA route development with the introduction of three new passenger routes to Los Angeles, Boston and Atlanta. With these new destinations, Qatar Airways will offer daily nonstop services to all 10 of the largest metropolitan areas of the United States.

Effective 1st January, 2016, Qatar Airways will commence daily flights to Los Angeles, California, the second largest city in the United States, with the airline’s flagship Boeing 777 aircraft, which features a two-class cabin with 42 Business Class fully lie-flat seats in a 2-2-2 configuration.