AMERICA's western railway, the Union Pacific, has posted a record 25 per cent year-on-year first quarter profit increase to US$863 million drawn on revenues of $5.1 billion.
During the first quarter revenue per carload rose 12 per cent year-over-year to $2,175 attributed to higher pricing and fuel surcharges.
Omaha-based Union Pacific, America's largest, experienced double digit revenue increases in four of its six business segment despite a decline in agricultural and coal volumes.
Intermodal volume increased one per cent year on year in the same period and double digit volume increase in automotive and industrial product.
Said UP chief executive Jack Koraleski: "We're clearly realising the benefits of our diverse franchise, despite current coal challenges."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FOOTWEAR tariffs on US imports must be lowered to promote trade and investment with member states of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), retailers told US trade representative Ron Kirk.
In a letter, the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) said less than one per cent of footwear sold in the US in domestically produced, and tariffs only represent costs and have no benefit for Americans.
"These tariffs make footwear more expensive and updating the rules for footwear in the TPP would help to lower costs for a basic necessity," said the RILA letter which asked for a quick reduction in duties and regulations.
RILA pressed its case during the TPP negotiations with nine Pacific Rim nations of US, Vietnam, Brunei, Chile, New Zealand, Singapore, Australia, Malaysia and Peru, said the letter.
Since autumn 2011, US legislators have asked to retain the status quo in the hope of retain the American footwear industry, which has been overwhelmed by imports from Vietnam, and now accounts for as much as eight per cent of shoes worn by Americans.
Mike Michaud, chairman of the US Congress House Trade Working Group, said in a letter to Mr Kirk last autumn: "Our trade negotiators need to make sure that this trade deal doesn't off-shore what's left of our shoe manufacturers."
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FINLAND's provider of real-time decision support systems to provide cost savings in the shipping industry, Eniram Limited, recently opened a Singapore office to serve Asia where many shipping companies are based.
"With the prices of marine fuel continuing to soar, we have a lot to offer ship operators who believe that the ability to produce tangible savings is of paramount importance," said Eniram CEO Philip Padfield.
"Singapore was a clear choice for us as it is not only one of the premier global hubs for shipping but has also made clear its intention to be a hub for green shipping in the region," he said.
"Our solutions target fuel consumption, using techniques such as dynamic trim optimisation to fine-tune the way their fleets move through the water. On average this can lead to savings per vessel of up to US$300,000 per year on a VLCC or mid-size container vessel, and in some cases much more," Mr Padfield said.
The company, which has offices in Fort Lauderdale and in London, develops onboard applications, performance management and analytics solutions that help owners and captains better operate their ships towards reduced fuel consumption and improved overall vessel efficiency.
Eniram offers a range of products designed to enhance efficiency and provides analytics and measurement tools to enable ship operators to determine where they are achieving savings. This includes speed management and dynamic trim optimisation, both of which significantly affect the amount of fuel consumed on a ship's voyage and can each result in measured savings often in excess of three per cent.
The company last year won Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Finland awards for being the fastest growing greentech company in Finland and it' s has also been shortlisted for this year' s Technical Innovation Award at the Seatrade Asia Awards.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
SOUTH Carolina Ports Authority (SCPA) announced that it's doubling grants to US$10,000 to have trucker replace their older trucks.
The authority said in a statement that eligible truck owners will also be offered the scrap value of their pre-1994 trucks, and apply the amount to buying 2004 or later models.
A mobile office will also be set up at the port's Wando Welch Terminal each week to make it even easier for truckers to learn about the benefits of upgrading their rigs, such as improved fuel efficiency, lower maintenance costs and decreased air emissions.
Seaport Truck Air Cleanup Southeast, or STACS, is a voluntary truck replacement programme launched last autumn that provides truck owners who are frequent port users a financial incentive to replace pre-1994 model trucks with 2004 or newer models.
The incentive for the programme is funded by the SCPA, along with the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) through a federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) grant.
This is the first such truck replacement programme in the region and so far 24 trucks have already been replaced. The STACS programme is part of the SCPA's Pledge for Growth environmental programme that has already helped fund $5 million in retrofits, upgrades and replacements to trucks, tugs and other port equipment.
According to a truck survey commissioned by the SCPA, about two per cent of the trucks that frequent the Port of Charleston were manufactured in 1993 or before. Based on EPA estimates, moving from 1993 or older trucks to 2004 or newer trucks reduces emissions 60 per cent.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
THE Missouri legislature has revived a bill recreating tax breaks for exports shipped out of Lambert-St Louis International Airport after a similar measure to build a China air cargo hub to rival Chicago was rejected.
The lower house has given initial approval to legislation authorising up to US$60 million in tax credits over several years for companies that coordinate exports through the airport, reported The Associated Press.
The bill to recreate a China air cargo hub, needs another lower house vote to move it to the state senate, but prospects of tax credits passing in the upper house remain shaky, said the report.
Shanghai-based China Cargo Airlines ran two flights, but did not return in November after making it clear their continued participation depended on tax breaks. The Chinese carrier has a two-year lease on a building and ramp space at Lambert.
China Cargo uses China Eastern Airlines route structure. It is a joint venture of China Eastern (51 per cent) and Cosco (17 per cent) and Singapore Airlines Cargo (up to 16 per cent) and Taiwan's EVA Air (16 per cent).
During a special session last fall, the proposed tax breaks for air cargo exports were a central part of a massive plan to overhaul Missouri's business incentives. But that plan never passed because the two houses could not agree on terms, said AP.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
JAPAN's All Nippon Airways (ANA) and its rival carrier Japan Airlines (JAL) has reported a surge in international cargo in February while each struggled to match volumes in the first 11 months of fiscal 2011.
ANA reported a slight increase in international cargo to 464,603 tons, a 3.1 per cent year-on-year increase, but struggling rival Japan Airlines Corp (JAL) plunged 42.7 per cent year on year to 215,222 tons.
Domestic cargo for both carriers showed uplift in February with ANA's reaching 37,081 tons, an 8.8 per cent increase with a slight uptick in first 11 months at 438,323 tons, up 1.1 per cent year on year.
In contrast JAL struggled over a longer period for 20 months, in February declining by 1.7 per cent to 28,455 tons. During the 11 months between April and February JAL volume declined 14.1 per cent to 348,359 tons.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
FEDEX has confirmed that it is in talks to buy the Paris-based express company Tatex in a bid to expand its European footprint by taking over small to mid-sized delivery companies.
The news comes two weeks after FedEx bought Polish courier company Opek in its first European acquisition following United Parcel Service's US$6.8 billion takeover of Netherlands-based TNT Express.
Tatex is a 36-year-old B2B parcel and heavy-lift express company with a 1,000 employees running a nationwide network that carries 19 million parcels a year and specialises in the high tech, spare parts, automotive, clothing, and generates annual revenues of $198 million.
The acquisitions will reportedly increase FedEx Europe revenue by $270 million. FedEx is also said be bidding for the European assets UPS and TNT Express which may be forced to divest to win merger approval from EU competition authorities.
FedEx has opened 26 new stations across France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden and Northern Ireland so far in fiscal 2012.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
European transport organisations call on the EU to maintain budget for transport infrastructure
Europe’s transport organisations make an united and strong demand that the EU maintains the EUR 32 billion earmarked for transport infrastructure within the 2014-2020 budget for the Connecting Europe Facility. It is highly unusual that more than 25 European organisations join forces, but the stakes are high with the Member States willing to cut the future EU budget.
In an open letter, sent jointly by organisations representing inland and maritime shipping, roads, rail, airlines, ports, chambers of commerce, workers and associated groups, the industry urges the European Council and Parliament to keep up infrastructure investment as transport will play a key role in the recovery from the current economic turndown.
Transport infrastructure is not only the backbone of the EU internal market. The letter points out that, with 10 million people in the EU directly employed in transport, as many again working in related sectors, and with a value amounting to some 5% of GDP, transport will play a key part in the recovery of the European economy from the economic downturn. “Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints all governments face at the moment, we all know transport infrastructure investments pay off in the long run”, the group tells Brussels.
Source Inland Navigation Europe
2012-04-23
Amman - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has appointed Hussein Dabbas as Regional Vice President for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), based in Amman, Jordan with effect from 1 June 2012.
Dabbas has served as President and CEO of Royal Jordanian Airlines since 2009. That was the culmination of a career at the carrier that spanned over three decades during which Dabbas held various positions in the airline's commercial departments. Dabbas takes over from Dr. Majdi Sabri who will retire from IATA after the leading the association in the MENA region since 2001.
"I welcome Hussein to IATA. His decades of aviation experience will help IATA to deliver its many important global programs in the fast growing MENA region. I also thank Majdi for his many years of dedicated service to IATA and the aviation industry of the region," said Tony Tyler, IATA's Director General and CEO.
"I am excited to be joining IATA and look forward to contributing to the development of aviation in the MENA region. Aviation is a critical component of the region's development and exhibits a tremendous potential for growth. In the Middle East alone, the aviation sector currently supports 2.7 million jobs and $129 billion in economic activity. I look forward to leading IATA's efforts regionally to ensure that aviation can continue be an economic catalyst by growing safely, securely and sustainably," said Dabbas
IATA's mission is to represent, lead and serve the airline industry. IATA brings together some 240 member airlines. Flights by these airlines account for 84% of all international scheduled air traffic.
IATA has 28 member airlines across the MENA region, including some of the fastest growing airlines in the world. From its Amman Regional Office, IATA supports the MENA region with access to the full range of IATA's activities, programs and services. This includes flagship programs such as the IATA Operational Safety Audit, Simplifying the Business, and Checkpoint of the Future as well as the full range of IATA's Industry Settlement Systems.
Source IATA
2012-04-23
CO2 emissions to be reduced by 25 percent by 2020
MAN will be playing a significant role in CO2 reduction: it intends to reduce its own CO2 emissions at MAN sites by 25 percent worldwide by 2020 (baseline: 2008). This mandatory target is set out in the Climate Strategy, which is part of MAN's Corporate Responsibility Strategy. It is presented in detail in the new 2011 MAN Corporate Responsibility Report, which meets the highest reporting level (A+) of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) for the first time.
By concentrating on the two fields of transportation and energy, MAN is focusing on precisely those products and services that significantly influence climate change. The new MAN Climate Strategy has now been adopted to contribute to the reduction of global CO2 emissions. "We can only meet our responsibility and seize business opportunities at the same time if we have clear and binding targets. After all, climate protection and cost effectiveness belong together: efficient, low-emission production and products minimize emissions and cut costs," explains Dr. Georg Pachta-Reyhofen, Chief Executive Officer of MAN SE.
In order to define and translate the climate targets, an MAN Climate Expert Team has developed five core initiatives. To cut CO2 emissions at the sites, renewable energy sources will be used, among other things, and comprehensive energy management will be introduced. At the MAN Truck & Bus plant in Steyr, the waste heat from engine test beds is already used to heat production halls, for example. In addition to cutting CO2 emissions at its sites, positioning efficient products with low emission values is also important to MAN.
MAN has defined key performance indicators to monitor and manage implementation of the entire Climate Strategy. The information will be collected and reported on a regular basis. "MAN wants to be recognized as one of the industry players to have dealt with the challenges of climate change the best by 2020," says Yvonne Benkert, Head of Corporate Responsibility for MAN SE.
Source MAN SE
Wilhelmsen Ships Service (WSS) is launching a revised portfolio with Unitor and Nalfleet product brands as the first part of their strengthened chemicals offer today. When this scheme has been fully rolled out it will offer an increased product range, enhanced customer service, specialist support in the form of an innovative new customer portal and an improved global logistics network.
Graham Hunter, Business Director Marine Chemicals says;
“The concept called Active Solutions is about people, products - and ultimately - better performance. This is more than a just a make-up exercise, I believe the full version of the new offer will be a game changer in this business. We’ve worked closely with our customers to look at critical operational issues affecting them. We know that crew competence and health and safety are a key concern for all owners and operators. Also, the shortage of time due to a multitude of other pressures means that it can be difficult to stay on top of changes in regulation and increasing environmental legislation”.
“Active Solutions has been developed with the aim of assisting our customers in solving these issues and providing solid, long term solutions. Although times are tough, this is the right time for us to invest for the future. With focus on competence, compliance and efficiency, we want to show that there are better ways of servicing marine chemical customers worldwide”.
“We are looking to transform our customer's experience from one where we simply reliably deliver a product range, to that of a consultative partnership, delivering shared knowledge, technical expertise and world-class after sales service. Active Solutions will enable vessel owners and operators to streamline their day to day activity, assure coordination between applications and improve operational effectiveness, whilst continuing to protect their bottom line”.
The new offer will take a phased approach throughout 2012, with today’s initial launch focussing on the introduction of a strengthened product portfolio, which will consist of three main product categories branded as follows: Water treatment (Nalfleet), Fuel oil treatment (Unitor) and Cleaning chemicals (Unitor).
Source Wilhelmsen
RATES from Asia to Europe softened again this week, slipping 2.1 per cent to US$1,708 per TEU, according to the Shanghai Containerised Freight Index (SCFI).
Asia-Mediterranean rates were also down, dipping 0.9 per cent to $1,747 per TEU.
But rates from Asia to the US west coast increased 5.7 per cent to $2,415 per FEU, and by 1.1 per cent to $3,556 per FEU on the Asia-US east coast route.
Across all trades covered by the index, the SCFI was up 0.6 per cent to 1,426.23 points.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
American exports in February rose 9.6 per cent year on year, driven by strong gains in paper and paperboard, building materials and reefer, according to PIERS data.
Northeast Asia led US containerised exports, showing a 12 per cent gain to 459,713 TEU year on year and represented 45.3 per cent of total export volume. Shipments to north Europe increased 19 per cent to 135,384 TEU.
February's total of 1,014,176 TEU represented a four per cent increase from January volume.
Shipments of paper and paperboard, including paper waste, was the largest export up 18 per cent to 154,271 TEU. Animal feed came in second, up 12 per cent to 48,227 TEU.
Scrap metal increased 28 per cent to 13,139 TEU as poultry soared 62 per cent to 22,267 TEU and frozen fish shot up 157 per cent to 10,524 TEU and building materials skyrocketed nearly 300 per cent to 13,788 TEU.
But raw cotton and fabric exports fell 15 per cent to 37,692 TEU. Logs and lumber were off seven per cent to 27,425 TEU and synthetic resins dropped 21 per cent to 16,488 TEU.
Strong gains also were posted in exports to the Caribbean, up 49 per cent to 55,813 TEU, and the west coast of South America, where exports increased 16 per cent to 35,621 TEU, boosted by increased shipments of paper and paperboard, PVC resins and auto parts.
Exports to the Mediterranean fell 18 per cent to 40,841 TEU while southeast Asia volumes fell nine per cent to 73,973 TEU.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
DURING the first three months this year, port of Chongqing handled 179,200 TEU, 21.2 per cent more than in the same period one year ago, Xinhua reports.
In the same period, the port recorded a throughput tonnage of 27.83 million tonnes, up 13.4 per cent. Foreign trade cargo throughput grew 25 per cent to 942,000 tonnes.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
CONTAINER volumes through Puget Sound ports were up and down in the first quarter with Tacoma traffic up 3.1 per cent while Seattle's throughput fell five per cent.
Results were better in March with Tacoma gaining 14.6 per cent in imports while exports were up 10.4 per cent year on year, and Seattle volume increased five per cent with exports leading with a separate 8.3 per cent increase.
First quarter breakbulk results did well in Tacoma where volumes increased 93 per cent year on year, resulting from a robust demand for machinery and construction equipment.
Seattle March grain also increased 20 per cent, and intermodal lifts were up 15 per cent. Seattle's total international container volume in March increased 6.5 per cent year on year. The port's total of containers handled, including empties and the coastal trade with Alaska, was up 5.8 per cent.
Shipping Gazette - Daily Shipping News
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