World trade in March: the calm before the storm? 
The container throughput index published by the RWI Leibniz Institute for Economic Research and the Institute of Shipping Economics and Logistics (ISL) went up in 2022, rising by 1.6 points to 119.2 points (seasonally adjusted), according to the latest flash estimate.... more
ONE launches new service
The Singapore-based Ocean Network Express (ONE) is launching a new service calling ports in Dubai, India and Mozambique. The MIM (Mozambique - India - Middle East) service will offer direct and bi-weekly connections to Jebel Ali, Mundra and Maputo, including transhipments to... more
Extended partnership in Brussels
Dnata, which currently provides ground handling, cargo, catering and retail services at over 120 airports in 19 countries, and Qatar Airways Cargo, one of the world’s largest cargo carriers, have extended their partnership in Belgium. The multi-year extension of the contract... more
Irisl plans fleet expansion
According to the Iranian press, the Islamic Republic of Iran Shipping Lines' (Irisl) managing director Mohammadreza Modares-Khiabani has stressed the importance of self-sufficiency in the development of the national fleet. Thus, the liner is going to pursue building new vessels... more
From South Africa to the Middle East
ACC Aviation, the global aviation services group, has successfully transacted a Boeing B737-300 (ZS-TGB) to a Middle East-based investor. ACC Aviation’s asset management division was able to source the off-market 1998-built B737-300 Classic (MSN29327) from Star Air Cargo, an... more
New leadership for Global Maritime Forum
The Global Maritime Forum elected Jan Dieleman as its new chairman at its annual general meeting which was this month (April 2022). Dieleman succeeds Peter Stokes, who is stepping down after five years at the helm, having been chairman of the forum since its establishment in... more
ZCT becomes a weekly service
Haifa-based shipping company ZIM is upgrading its ZIM Container Service Turkey (ZCT) to a weekly service, effective mid-May 2022. The transatlantic ZCT thus provides an enhanced connection between Turkey and the US East Coast. The port rotation, starting as of May 2022, will... more
Kuehne stays on the rise
Kuehne + Nagel improved its net turnover by 68% to CHF 10.2 billion in Q1/2022, generating a net profit of CHF 832 million. In ocean freight, originally Kuehne's core segment, container volumes reached 1 million teu in this period and the division's net turnover amounted to CHF... more
Two platforms soon to merge
The holding has given the green light. Icontainers, an online freight platform heaquartered in Barcelona, is to merge with the digital freight forwarding branch, Dubai-based Shipa Freight. The combined company, wholly owned by Agility, will offer standard air and ocean... more
World trade in peril, says WTO
In mid- April, the WTO published its analysis on the implications of the war in Ukraine for global trade and development. The WTO secretariat's note, ‘The Crisis in Ukraine: Implications of the war for global trade and development’, anticipates that the crisis could lower global... more