PRESS RELEASE
April 14, 2015. Dachser reports an increase in revenue of 5.2% in 2014. Including revenue from corporate holdings, the two Business Fields Road Logistics and Air & Sea Logistics grew by 5.0% and 8.0% respectively.
"A lively spring was followed by an extraordinarily strong fall," says Bernhard Simon, CEO of Dachser, in summarizing the year's events. "The trend toward outsourcing internationally complex logistics tasks in particular has made a contribution to the organic growth."
Simon considers integrated supply chain solutions for multinational customers to be one of the major sources of growth in upcoming years: "Our efficient European groupage network, customized contract logistics solutions in Europe, Asia, and the U.S., as well as our own air and sea freight network allow us to create complete supply chains."
According to Simon, growth through expansion of networks is finished except for enhancements here and there. Dachser will now be able to leverage its interlinked logistics services to achieve particularly sustainable growth.
In the Dachser European Logistics (EL) Business Line within Road Logistics, in addition to the traditionally strong performance of the 'EL Germany' Business Unit, the consistent export strategy of the European subsidiaries has paid off. For example, the 'EL North Central Europe,' 'EL France & Maghreb,' and 'EL Iberia' Business Units made significant contributions to the 5.3% growth in revenue. Shipping figures increased by 5.5%; tonnage rose by 6.3%.
The second Business Line of Road Logistics and Dachser Food Logistics (3.7% growth in revenue), profited from such factors as strong use of capacity in consumer goods contract logistics. In addition, rising demand for cross-border food shipments in the European Food Network had a positive effect.
Finally, the Air & Sea Logistics Business Field also continued its global growth trend in 2014. The positive trend in sea freight was the decisive factor in the successful fiscal year.
Dachser started off 2015 by changing its legal form to an SE (Societas Europaea). "By taking this action, we have created maximum legal security for our future growth as an international company and at the same time secured our independence as a 100% family-owned company," explains Simon.
The new management structure, which was created in the process, has eight operational Business Units under the globally active Executive Board. "This reinforces our decentralized business strategy, which gives us the ability to make decisions flexibly and quickly. In this way we can ensure proximity to our customers, and write the next chapter in our success story."
PRESS RELEASE
April 13, 2015: Along with its spectacular passenger growth, Turkish Airlines is also rapidly growing its cargo network and operations.
In line with that growth, Turkish Cargo inaugurates service to the Far East, beginning weekly freighter services to Lahore as its 17th dedicated freighter service in the Far East, and to Bahrain as its 8th dedicated freighter service in the Middle East as from April 7, 2015.
These all-cargo flights will supplement the already substantial Cargo capacity currently available on the multiple passenger flights to the cities in both the Far East and the Middle East regions.
Turkish Cargo provides the most efficient connections to the leading production and commercial centers across the globe. As from the beginning of the Summer schedule 2015, Turkish Cargo will be present at more than 265 destinations, including 50 freighter destinations, in 109 countries by its 9 freighters and 259 passenger aircraft.
By expanding to new destinations, Turkish Cargo brings its network and quality service to even more customers, meeting the needs of its clients with a careful attention to detail that is part of all aspects of Turkish Airlines.
PRESS RELEASE
March 09, 2015: Brussels Airport reports cargo volumes rose 9.6 percent for the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period last year.
"Last year was already good with cargo figures increasing by a good 8% year on year", said Steven Polmans, Head of Cargo. "But we are pleased to see that the start of 2014 brings even stronger growth in our volumes and that all segments contribute to this growth. Cargo volumes are up on full freighter and integrator traffic as well as well as on belly aircraft."
The recent win of new customers such as Qatar Airways Cargo and Ethiopian Airlines Cargo are part of the success Brussels is experiencing. Qatar already operates 8 weekly flights and Ethiopian will go from 4 to 6 weekly flights as of April.
"But it is not just the growth that makes us happy at the moment", continued Polmans. "We feel a positive vibe at BRUcargo and there is a great cooperation with all stakeholders and organisations to further improve in all different fields of operations. We are making good progress in strengthening our cargo community management and we are working on many different projects closely together and in a good constructive atmosphere. Also our cargo community system in the cloud is going life at the moment, which is a challenging but promising adventure."
Just last month, Brussels Airport announced a second wave of IATA CEIV pharma certification at BRUcargo, after very positive feedback of the first participants. A further eight companies will join the program at Brussels, amongst them companies such as DHL Global Forwarding, Kuehne+Nagel, Panalpina and Geodis. Other companies participating are Hazgo, FB Logistics, Ninatrans and Van Dievel Transport.
Nathan De Valck, Key Account Manager at Brussels Airport, explained: "The fact that the demand came from the market to organise this second wave is very encouraging and motivating. It shows the strength and benefits of the program. From our side we will continue to work closely with the shippers and identify next steps where we as an airport can make the difference for them in further improving our position as pharma gateway in Europe."
Polmans said he remained very optimistic: "The different projects we are working on will keep us busy for the moment but will also contribute in realising our targets and goals. Furthermore, in the next months, we will also see the start of some new real estate projects, both ramp side as well as second line. Add to that the new flights of Ethiopian as of mid April, the start of Yangtze River Express at the beginning of April and the start of Kelowna Cargo in May, and you understand that all of us at Brussels are pretty busy and can look forward to further growth in the next months."
PRESS RELEASE
April 09, 2015: The Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC), a nonprofit coalition of leading electronics companies dedicated to supply chain responsibility, has changed its Code of Conduct designed to protect workers that now includes a ban on all recruitment fees paid by workers.
The EICC has made the eradication of forced labor a high priority in 2015 as evidenced by a series of recent actions taken to strengthen its Code of Conduct.
The current EICC Conduct of Conduct, version 5.0, which was ratified by members in 2014 and went into effect on April 1, 2015, has several new provisions to further address issues that can lead to forced labor.
The Code prohibits the holding of passports and other key worker documents as well as unreasonable restrictions on movement and access to basic liberties, and requires that workers are provided with a written employment agreement in their native language prior to departing from their country of origin.
Excessive recruitment fees are another major factor that can lead to forced labor, trapping workers in debt to the labor broker or employment agency that recruited or hired them for a position in the supply chain.
In response, the EICC took an extraordinary step to further strengthen the Code in a special membership vote that concluded on March 27, 2015. The new Code of Conduct language on fees states: "Workers shall not be required to pay employers' or agents' recruitment fees or other related fees for their employment. If any such fees are found to have been paid by workers, such fees shall be repaid to the worker."
This new language is in alignment with the recent U.S. Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) final rule on Ending Trafficking in Persons, issued to implement President Obama's Executive Order on Strengthening Protections Against Trafficking in Persons in Federal Contracts.
"The electronics industry has been leading the way in the fight against forced labor in global supply chains," said Rob Lederer, Executive Director, Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC). "The support of our membership to further strengthen the EICC Code of Conduct and ban recruitment fees placed on workers demonstrates the industry's commitment to combat forced labor worldwide."
The EICC is comprised of more than 100 electronics companies, representing 17 different sectors from consumer brands to smelters, with combined annual revenue of approximately $3 trillion, and directly employing over 5.5 million people.
PRESS RELEASE
April 07, 2015: American Airlines Cargo has introduced three new mainland European cities to its summer schedule for 2015. Athens, Lisbon and Venice have all joined the network of the world's largest airline.
Cargo service between Lisbon and Philadelphia as well as Venice and Philadelphia commenced on March 29. Service between the Greek capital, Athens and Philadelphia will start on April 15. These expanded service points will provide customers with new direct options for shipping cargo with the same great service they've come to know and expect from American.
Lisbon and Athens will be served using a B757 aircraft, and Venice will see an Airbus A330-300.
"These are three great additions to our ever-expanding network. Two new capital city links with the eastern seaboard of the U.S. provide tremendous business opportunities for small-sized, time-sensitive items over the summer months while the fashion community in Venice and the surrounding area now have direct service to the USA from their region", said Tristan Koch, Managing Director Cargo Sales in the region with American.
PRESS RELEASE
April 09, 2015: Global freight management network The WACO System has welcomed Freight In Time (FIT) as its newest member in East Africa and Spence Maldives Pvt Ltd in Asia.
Headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, FIT is the new WACO member for Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Djibouti, and Burundi.
Spence Maldives will represent the exclusive network of independent freight management companies in the Republic of the Maldives.
"We are focused on working with companies with strong local knowledge and expertise, and are delighted to be welcoming two such well-established forwarders to the WACO family," said Richard Charles, Executive Director, The WACO System.
"We continue to develop our network and expand our global footprint, and will be announcing more new members soon."
FIT offers integrated logistics solutions across a wide range of industry sectors, including pharmaceutical, oil and gas, telecommunications, humanitarian, and mining.
"We are delighted to be joining The WACO System and look forward to working with our new overseas partners," said Shamit Shah, Group Executive Director, FIT.
Established in 2006, Spence Maldives Pvt Ltd is headquartered in Malé, the Maldives, and offers a full suite of logistics services to customers globally.
It is part of the Aitken Spence Group of Companies, which includes Ace Cargo Pvt Ltd, WACO member for Sri Lanka since 2002.
"The WACO System represents an exciting opportunity for us and we are eager to start working with our new network of colleagues," said Buddike Dissanayake, Head of Freight, Spence Maldives Pvt Ltd.
The WACO System will hold its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Rome, Italy from the 20th to 23rd April 2015. The network hosts two events a year globally, providing hundreds of face-to-face business meeting opportunities for members.
PRESS RELEASE
April 07, 2015: Transcontainer LLC and RUSCON, two divisions of the GCS Group, are among the many local companies involved in the growing out-of-gauge (OOG) export business driven by the Russian currency depreciation over the last year.
One example is a year-long project to transport machinery via the port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea for a thermal power station being built in Harta, Iraq.
The machinery is sourced from production plants throughout Russia and Transcontainer LLC acts as the agent for Sarjak Container Lines which has the contract to carry the products to the port of Umm Qasr.
RUSCON operates the off-dock terminal which provides stuffing and port handling for the more than100 flat rack and open-top containers that will be transported throughout the project.
Pavel Merinov, the head of Transcontainer LLC's project and out-of-gauge cargo team, says: "We are delighted that Sarjak has recognised our expertise in handling this specialised cargo and awarded us partnership in Novorossiysk. We are also working closely with our sister company RUSCON which handles shipments of machinery both in dedicated containers and as loose cargo in its terminal.
"Sarjak Container Lines, together with its partners like us in South Russia, is geared up to meet increased demand both in terms of specialised container equipment availability and facilities for safe and efficient handling of project cargo."
Mr Merinov says that handling OOG cargo is increasingly becoming part of the company's routine work, with a particular emphasis on exports.
"The fall of the Ruble has made our manufacturers more competitive in international markets, so we are seeing growing volumes of exports – to Asia, Africa and South America, which creates new opportunities for OOG shipments in specialised containers out of Russia."
GCS belongs to one of Russia's largest transport holding companies, Delo, which also owns several terminal assets in the port of Novorossiysk. Ruscon, the multimodal subsidiary of GCS, is one of the leading transport operators in the Russian container industry. Its experienced team of approx. 900 people in 11 offices throughout Russia and CIS handles over 200,000 TEU a year.
PRESS RELEASE
April 09, 2015: JSC Russian Railways Logistics (RRL) has taken a 50 percent stake in Latvian freight forwarder SIA 'Liepajas naftas tranzits' (LNT) through its partner RZDL Multimodal B. V.
RRL plans to set up a rail link to the ports of Latvia and the new project will allow RZDL to provide the stability and regularity of westbound rail services. At the same time RRL will provide LNT with legal support in the Russian freight forwarding market.
According to Pavel Sokolov, RRL CEO, the combination of both companies experience and market knowledge will increase the effectiveness of LNT as a rail freight forwarder.
"Russian Railways Logistics as a part of the United transport and logistics company develops business in Europe and Asia as a priority. Currently we have a joint venture JSC Euro Rail Trans operating at that area (sic). We believe that the cooperation with the Latvian based freight forwarder will give us a lot of new opportunities at multimodal-transport market of EU," Sokolov said.
RRL has 23 branches in Russia and works in cooperation with more than 250 partners and has launched four joint ventures – Far East Land Bridge, RZDL Multimodal B.V., Euro Rail Trans and Black Sea Ferries limited.
PRESS RELEASE
April 07, 2015: Emirates SkyCargo, the freight division of Emirates, will soon be adding the popular Indonesian Island of Bali to its Asia Pacific network, opening up a new trade lane between the island and the cargo carrier's network of more than 140 destinations.
Bali will become Emirates SkyCargo' s 2nd gateway in Indonesia and 24th Asia Pacific point in its global network.
With the launch of its daily service to Bali, Emirates SkyCargo will offer 294 tonnes of cargo capacity per week both ways in the belly hold of a Boeing 777-300 ER which will be used on the route. The new Bali service will bring to four the number of daily flights Emirates SkyCargo has to Indonesia - three of which are to the country's capital Jakarta.
"With Bali joining our network, it opens up new opportunities for businesses on the island as well as for those across our network of more than 140 destinations. Our hub Dubai, which is strategically located between east and west, enables us to offer our customers in the Asia Pacific region access to markets in the Middle East, Africa and Europe," said Nabil Sultan, Emirates Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo.
The Asia-Pacific countries and Australia maintained its leading position among the UAE's trade partners in terms of non-oil trade, accounting for 43%, or AED 106 billion of total direct trade volume in the first quarter of 2014, according to Federal Customs Authority data.
Emirates' new daily flight to Bali will depart Dubai as EK398 at 0820hrs and arrive at Bali's Denpasar International Airport at 2140hrs the same day. The return flight, EK399, will depart at 2340hrs and arrive at Dubai International Airport at 0500 the next day.
PRESS RELEASE
April 07, 2015: The CAL Group announced today that it has joined IATA's Independent Validators Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) program. Once completed, CAL will be the first group to have a certified pharmaceutical logistics program throughout its logistics hub at Liege Airport.
The program, carried out in cooperation with Liege Airport, begins in April and continues through June, with full certification expected in July 2015.
"Completion of the program will strengthen CAL's position as a leader in the frontline of carriers providing services for the Pharma sector," said Eyal Zagagi, CEO of CAL Group. "We have almost 40 years' experience handling temperature controlled freight and 35% of our cargo business is temperature controlled. The CEIV certification will improve the quality and integrity of our customer's product and the industry as a whole."
"We are excited about CAL's commitment. With the CEIV Pharma program, IATA aims to work closely with industry and regulators to raise the bar and make air freight the mode of choice for the transportation of pharmaceutical products. This will help companies demonstrate the quality of their services and capture new business," said Ronald Schaefer, Project Lead, IATA CEIV Pharma.
The Center of Excellence for Independent Validators Pharmaceutical Logistics (CEIV Pharma) program was developed as a new initiative by IATA to help foster air cargo's competitiveness in this growing segment. CEIV Pharma assesses and validates cool-chain processes and provides training to guarantee that industry stakeholders comply with all applicable standards and regulatory requirements.
Established in 1976, the CAL Group proudly maintains three areas of expertise: (1) CAL Cargo Airlines- an all-cargo airline; (2) LACHS - ground handling services in Liege cargo airport; (3) Trucking services throughout Europe and the USA.
The CAL Group specializes in unique, complex and time and temperature sensitive cargo requirements such as pharmaceutical and healthcare products (CAL PHARMA), live animals (CAL LIVE), non-standard shipments (CAL BIG), dangerous goods (CAL DG) and perishables (CAL FRESH.) Its main hub, located in Liege, (Belgium), provides immediate accessibility to all of Europe. Services include scheduled routes as well as ad-hoc and charter missions.
CAL is a private company owned by Mr. Offer Gilboa as the controlling shareholder and Viola Credit Fund as a minority shareholder.
PRESS RELEASE
April 07, 2015: The CMA CGM Group is pleased to announce the launching of MEDGULF Service linking the Mediterranean to the US Gulf and Caribbean (Dominican Republic, Jamaica). This new service will offer:
- Weekly sailings from the Mediterranean to US Gulf and Caribbean
- A unique and direct rotation from Houston to Tangiers
- The best transit time on the market between Mexico and Houston, to Spain and Italy, that represent a strong advantage on the Reefer market
MEDGULF completes the AMERIGO service that has already been operating between the Mediterranean and US East Coast.
The MEDGULF service will deploy a fleet of 6 1,700 TEU vessels on the following direct weekly rotation: Tangiers, Livorno, Genoa, Barcelona, Valencia, Caucedo, Kingston, Veracruz, AlTamira, Houston and Tangiers.
The first voyage will start from Livorno, on April 24th 2015.
