Today's e-news sponsored by : Click on the banner to know more...

Transcription

1 Page 1 of 6 Alex Yong Saturday, April 21, 2007 Today's e-news sponsored by : Click on the banner to know more... DHL logistics division regional HQ opens in Singapore Schenker opens multi-modal centre at Finland's Turku port Container train runs faster between Russia and Finland China Southern Airlines posts profit of US$24m Chengdu Airport opens air cargo terminal Hong Kong retains No 2 spot among air cargo airports Haafa aims for higher standards in logistics industry Transport Logistics China 2008's dates shortened Delmas switches agent in Malaysia DHL logistics division regional HQ opens in Singapore DHL has decided to house the regional operations of its two logistics business units, DHL Global Forwarding and DHL Exel Supply Chain, under a single roof in Singapore, which will become the new headquarters for these two companies. The relocation is intended to enhance internal efficiencies and strengthen the group's position in the market. By combining DHL Global Forwarding's customised logistics solutions and DHL Exel Supply Chain's contract logistics services, the company expects to be able to provide customers with end-to-end supply chain logistics across a global platform. "DHL's choice of Singapore, is based on the country's world-renowned efficiency, extensive connectivity, excellent infrastructure and great human capital investment

2 Page 2 of 6 that we have come to experience as a logistics provider. As we want to play a major role in Singapore's vision to be the logistics hub of the region, it will continue to be an attractive location for DHL," said John Allan, global CEO for the DHL logistics division and board member of Deutsche Post World Net, DHL's parent company. The new office for the DHL logistics division regional headquarters also houses the group's global customer solutions unit. The DHL logistics division in Singapore has a combined staff strength of 2,200 employees and over 20 dedicated facilities, including a healthcare and life sciences hub, which specialises in handling and supporting clinical trials, cold-chain management, hospital logistics, temperature-controlled and dangerous goods storage, a company statement said. Schenker opens multi-modal centre at Finland's Turku port SCHENKER has announced that it has opened Finland's first multimodal logistics centre for truck, air, ship and rail at the Port of Turku. The complex serves as distribution centre for the German company's activities in Scandinavia as the rail link makes it possible for goods to be transshipped directly out of the wagons coming from the ferry terminal. The Schenker logistics centre offers rail connections both on the Russian and on European track gauge system. "Bearing in mind the increasing volume of freight shipments, the direct rail link to Russia adds up to a notable competitive advantage," said Goran Aberg, regional director east at Schenker. "We are confident that in the foreseeable future we will be able to use the Trans-Siberian Railroad for the shipment of consumer goods from the Far East - for distribution to other European countries as well." The complex has been developed on a site measuring 30,000 square metres at the port of Turku. The facility is equipped with 22,000 square metres of hi-tech storage space for 45,000 fast turnaround pallets, which can be temperature-controlled if required. These carry goods that will be stored only briefly before being passed on to the market, a company statement said. The multimodal logistics centre also offers complementary services, such as repackaging, order picking, upgrading and assembly. Container train runs faster between Russia and Finland FREIGHT transport by rail between Russia and Finland will be shortened by four

3 Page 3 of 6 hours with the introduction this month of the new container train Aurora Borealis, which runs from Finland's Kuovala station to Moscow's main freight yards, reported Itar-Tass news agency. The Russian Railways Company (RRC) has deployed new technologies for the delivery of containers, making it possible to shorten the duration of the trip, partially by steamlining border procedures. The joint RCC- Railways of Finland operation is being operated by a ContainerTransScandinavia joint-venture enterprise, established by the TransContainer public joint-stock company, a subsidiary of two parent companies. The purpose of co-operation is to render comprehensive services in export, import and transit-oriented transport of containers between Russia and Finland and to raise the quality of services for domestic and foreign shippers, the news agency said. China Southern Airlines posts profit of US$24m CHINA Southern Airlines has announced an audited profit attributable to shareholders of CNY188 million (US$24.35 million) for the 2006 calendar year, representing a marked turnaround from recording a loss of CNY1.85 billion in The company attributed the return to the black to strong demand for air transportation on the back of steady growth in China's economy. Total operating expenses grew by CNY6.31 billion, or 15.9 per cent year on year, to CNY45.90 billion in 2006, largely due to higher fuel expenses, operational and maintenance costs. The group's operating revenue increased by 20.7 per cent from CNY38.29 billion in 2005 to CNY46.22 billion in 2006, resulting from higher traffic volume. The total number of passengers carried rose by 11.5 per cent year on year to million passengers in Cargo and mail revenue, which accounted for 7.7 per cent of total operating revenue, was up 14.5 per cent over 2005 to CNY3.54 billion in 2006 driven by higher demand. Domestic passenger revenue, which accounted for 82.2 per cent of the total passenger revenue in 2006, grew by 21.3 per cent over a year ago to CNY34.17 billion in The passenger load factor increased by 1.6 percentage points to 71.7 per cent in 2006, up from 70.1 per cent the previous year.

4 Page 4 of 6 Chengdu Airport opens air cargo terminal CONSTRUCTION of the Chengdu Airport Cargo Terminal has been completed and the CNY200 million (US$25.9 million) facility has recently commenced operations, reports Xinhua. The cargo terminal, which was financed by a consortium of investors from Sichuan and Hong Kong, is the largest facility of its kind covering an area measuring 110,000 square metres. The airfreight terminal in mainland China's mid-west region is capable of handling 380,000 tons of cargo annually, expected to comprise of 350,000 tons of domestic freight and 30,000 tons of foreign trade. Services provided include air cargo loading and discharging, storage, customs clearance, as well as customs supervised warehousing. Customs officials stationed at the air cargo terminal offer a "one-stop" service to enable 90 per cent of the domestic cargo and all international airfreight to be released from the terminal on the day of arrival, the report added. Hong Kong retains No 2 spot among air cargo airports HONG KONG ranks second to Memphis in the world ranking of cargo airports by size, according to a recent study by Capgemini Consulting of Australia. The top five positions, which remained the same from , were retained by Memphis (home to FedEx and Northwest Airlines), Hong Kong, Tokyo, Anchorage, Alaska (a major hub for FedEx, UPS and Northwest Airlines) and Seoul, South Korea. The Capgemini survey shows the growth percentage of air cargo handled and each of the airports' home-base carriers and the outside carriers using the airport as their hubs. Haafa aims for higher standards in logistics industry THE Hongkong Association of Freight Forwarding and Logistics Limited (Haffa) is looking for ways to enhance industry standards to meet future challenges, said its honourary secretary, Kelly King. Speaking recently at a function to celebrate the association's 40th anniversary, Mr

5 Page 5 of 6 King pointed out that the group was "actively seeking ways to ensure industry standards are maintained and enhanced with comprehensive training schemes". "Haffa believes the growth in the cargo industry will not only require additional cargo facilities and advanced communications technology but also, perhaps more importantly, improving the performance of logistics-related personnel." Apart from working with the Hong Kong on the "Skill Upgrading Scheme" for frontline staff, the Haffa is also collaborating with the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) to develop a training programme for newcomers. Mr King said Haffa also supported the initiative by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) to eliminate paper in air cargo. The association also supports IATA's move to develop an e-freight framework allowing all parties in the sector to seamlessly exchange electronic information and e-documents. Hong Kong has been invited by IATA to launch in 2007 an e-freight scheme on key trade routes linking the SAR, UK, Singapore, Canada and the Netherlands. "Being one of the pioneer locations with high cargo volumes, the association believes this will bring radical changes to future cargo operations," Mr King added. Transport Logistics China 2008's dates shortened THE organisers of an international trade fair for transport, logistics and telematics in Asia have revised the dates for the event after many of the exhibitors participating in Transport Logistics China requested it be shortened from four days to three. The Munich Trade Fairs International Group announced in a statement that the expo will now be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) from June 17 to 19, It will mark the third year that Transport Logistics China is held at this venue in Shanghai. Modelled after the international trade fair in Munich, the concept provides companies in the Far East a platform for international networking, allowing partners to initiate and transact new business. The organisers of the trade fair said they aim to establish the event as an industry gathering in one of Asia's most dynamic markets. The trade fair's exhibits range from logistics, telematics and e-commerce to in-house transport and material-flow solutions, freight transport and related services. Experts from the industrial-manufacturing and transportation sectors will use the expo as an opportunity to showcase their products, technologies and services, in particular, to the decision-makers themselves. The show will be accompanied by a conference, where global issues relating to logistics for China and Asia will be explored. Additionally, the 2008 Air Cargo China Conference and show section will provide another focal point for the event

6 Page 6 of 6 with senior executives from the air cargo community examining the challenges that lie ahead, and the opportunities for new business with China, organisers said. Delmas switches agent in Malaysia FRENCH shipping line Delmas has announced that from May 1 all of its agency arrangements in Malaysia will be handled by CMA CGM & ANL Malaysia. Prior to this arrangement, Sunship (Malaysia) had acted as Delmas' agent in the Southeast Asian nation for many years. Delmas serves the north-south trade from Europe, focussing in particular on the Africa trade. From Morocco to Kenya and the Indian Ocean islands, Delmas operates 15 regular container shipping services to and from Europe and Asia that call at the major ports in Africa. Delmas says it has the ability to then on-carry cargo from an African port to any in-land destination on the continent. Delmas' Cross-Trade services also enable the company to connect Africa to any part of the world, a company statement said. To subscribe, please click To unsubscribe, please click -- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG Free Edition. Version: / Virus Database: /773 - Release Date: 4/22/2007 8:18 PM