DHL launches "UbuntuConnect" service via Dubai 
DHL Global Forwarding has launched a dedicated 100 t weekly airfreight service for organizations and governments shipping goods from China to Africa and the Middle East. Named after the Nguni Bantu word, ubuntu (humanity) used across Africa to refer to the universal bond of... more
Divestments and investments of Royal Vopak
The tank storage company Royal Vopak achieved revenues of EUR 296.9 million in Q1/2020. Ebitda amounted to EUR 200 million compared to EUR 215 million (pre-divestments) in Q1/2019. On 31 January 2020, Vopak completed the earlier announced divestment of its 100% shareholding in... more
Alliances weathering the storm differently
Deep-sea carriers have currently blanked 435 sailings. The Copenhagen-headquartered maritime consultancy Sea-Intelligence said in a recent bulletin that these cancelations stand for a decline in demand of 7 million t in 2020. The blanking measure, however, protects the... more
Launch of China–Austria container service
RZD Logistics (RZDL) has launched a new transit container service from Shenyang (China) to Enns (Austria) via the Zabaykalsk border crossing. The project was implemented in close collaboration with Chinese logistics company Sinotrans. The first train, loaded with industrial... more
Passing on oil price reductions
The freight forwarding associations Fiata and Clecat have called on the liner industry to relieve the burden imposed by Covid-19. With regards to the sudden decline of the price of very low-sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), just after the steady rise in costs last year caused by the... more
New locomotives to haul coal in Indonesia
Progress Rail in the USA has signed a contract with PT Kereta Indonesia (PT KAI) for 36 new freight locomotives that will expand the Indonesian railway operator’s existing GT Series fleet. The new traction will go into service for PT KAI’s South Sumatra coal haulage operations... more
IRU-UNECE call for coordinated measures
The International Road Union (IRU) and the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) continue their cooperative and proactive joint response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In a joint letter addressed to customs administration bodies, the two organisations stressed the importance... more
Record smashed: China – UK in just 17 days
Davies Turner’s direct, fixed-day, weekly rail import service from China to the UK has broken record transit times. “The first consol container that left China after we restarted our direct express China rail service into the UK in March arrived after just 17 days,” said chief... more
Finnair Cargo builds long and short air bridges
While passenger traffic has been reduced to a minimum, Finnair's air cargo is still operating during this exceptional period. Last week, Finnair flew more than ten return flights to Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo, Guangzhou and Shanghai. They carry national emergency supplies to... more
Indian Railways introduces 109 time-tabled parcel trains
In a major boost to the supply chain network across the country, Indian Railways has introduced unhindered services of timetabled parcel trains for nationwide transportation of essential commodities and other goods. Over 58 routes and 109 special parcel trains have been... more