Freight and Logistics News and Market Update - Week of February 2, 2023

• Continued ILWU negotiations and lack of an agreement could further disrupt activity at West Coast US ports, causing shippers to consider other options for Ocean Freight into the US.
• Inflation and uncertain geo-political and economic issues continue to decrease overall air freight volume through Singapore’s Changi airport – a potential issue across many major APAC Hubs.
• Europe ports and air hubs are expanding capacity and modernizing in an attempt to prepare for a continued increase in volume and additional service lanes.
• DP World won a new container terminal concession at India’s Kandla box terminal which is expected to provide significant infrastructure, while also helping to decrease container logistics costs in India.

Air

• Ameriflight announces it intends to purchase 20 Natilus pilotless aircrafts. Ameriflight claims this purchase will increase cargo volume by 60% and cut carbon emissions in half, therefore making air shipments more available and affordable.

Ocean

• Frustration is intensifying at the US West Coast ports as a contract agreement between the ILWU and the terminal operators has still not been reached, after nine months of ongoing negotiations.
• The Marino Group's Marine Repair Services - Container Maintenance Corporation (MRS-CMC) is adding new equipment to their recently launched Port of Houston depot, which will provide a more efficient storage alternative. It will also help alleviate terminal congestion by reducing container dwell time.

Ground

• Canadian Pacific expects approval of merger with Kansas City Southern, opening up new rail options from the Midwest US into Canada.

Air

• Aeromexico is expanding its domestic routes starting March 26, by adding three new direct routes from Mexico City to Colima, Cozumel, Tepic and one additional route to Ciudad Victoria starting on March 27. Cargo capacity is expected to increase within Mexico.
• LATAM Airlines is increasing its North American presence by adding a non-stop flight between Bogota, Colombia and Orlando, Florida starting on July 1. Cargo capacity between the two regions is expected to increase.
• Copa Airlines surpases LATAM Airlines in on-time performance with an arrival rate of 87.54%. Copa Airlines is now the most-punctual airline.

Ocean

• Blank sailings have been insufficient at preventing rate stagnation.With more capacity coming into the market, the outlook is still not positive.

Air

• Singapore Changi Airport sees cargo volumes fall throughout 2022. Airfreight tonnage declined by 4.8% in 2022 compared to 2021. In December, airfreight tonnage declined by 17% compared to December 2021. The Changi Airport Group reported that inflation and ongoing economic uncertainties were the drivers of the decline in volume.

Ocean

• Starting February 1, ZIM is launching a new service - Thailand Fremantle Express (TFX), that will connect Southeast Asia and Australia. With the new TFX (Thailand Fremantle Express) service, ZIM will be expanding its coverage in the area, and will also implement direct connections between several Southeast Asia countries and Fremantle.

Air

• Leige Airport in Belgium will now have a restriction of no more than 55,000 flights per year, excluding flights that are less than 34 tons, as a part of a 20-year environmental permit to reduce noise and flights.
• Following the launching of a freight facility with handling, freight forwarding, customs clearage and storage in 2022, UK’s Teesside International Airport received approval for Border Control Point (BCP), which will now enable perishable product handling including flowers, fruit, and vegetables.
• Beginning May 5, Air France will launch direct flights, connecting Guadeloupe, Martinique, and French Guiana to Brazil. Increased cargo capacity and flow is to be expected between the regions.
• Due to increased cargo demand on the Frankfurt route, British Airways will operate the Boeing 777 & 787 to the Frankfurt Airport on 27 flights which will include Berlin and Dublin from now until April. The widebody flights will provide extra bellyhold capacity and cargo flow.
• Manchester Airport announced a terminal expansion worth £440 million, which will provide new facilities and technology as well as strengthen UK’s global gateway in the North by linking the region to many more destinations and markets. The construction will be complete in 2025.

Ocean

• MSC introduced a new weekly direct route on its India – West Mediterranean service at the Port of Leghorn in Italy. The new route will replace the cargo acceptance for India, East Africa, Red Sea, the Middle East and Far East. The first vessel is set to sail under the new rotation on February 28 and will have the capacity to carry 7,950 TEUs.

Air

• Air India placed an order for 30 aircrafts from Airbus and Boeing consisting of a mix of narrowbody and widebody aircraft types. The utilization of the aircrafts in the following months will gradually increase cargo capacity and flow from and to the region.

Ocean

• DP World won a new container terminal concession at India’s Kandla box terminal which is expected to cater to container vessels up to 21,000 TEUs. The project is worth around $550 million and expected to commence in 2026. The terminal is expected to provide significant infrastructure, while also helping to decrease container logistics costs in India.
• The Saudi Ports Authority, Mawani, had announced MSC’s container line linking King Abdulaziz Port to various destinations throughout Southern Africa, South Asia, and the Arabian Gulf. Vessels started operating on a weekly basis on January 21, with the average capacity of over 6,000 TEUs.

• The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has started to enforce the Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA). CBP will begin detaining goods unless there is clear and convincing evidence that forced labor was not used at any point of the production process.