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Category: Logistics

Retail News Asia is committed to providing both local and global retailers with the latest Logistics news throughout the Asian market. This on a daily base.

  • Rhenus takes over O’Brien Logistics

    Rhenus takes over O’Brien Logistics

    The Rhenus group will have its own national company in Australia, Rhenus Logistics Australia, in future too. The logistics specialist signed an agreement to purchase the freight forwarding company known as O’Brien Customs and Forwarding Pty Ltd in order to expand its network of business sites in the Asia-Pacific region.

    The O’Brien family business handles air and sea freight consignments and provides customs and warehouse services. It was initially founded as a pure customs clearance firm by Jan and Shane O’Brien in 1996. O’Brien has been offering its customers air and sea freight transportation in addition to customs services for seven years. O’Brien has its headquarters in the northern part of Melbourne.

    The Rhenus Group is planning to expand the firm’s current operations in future with its network and its services. They include, for example, domestic traffic, support for imports/exports, buyers’ consolidation as well as warehouse and integrated logistics solutions.

    “The takeover of O’Brien and the founding of the national company to be known as Rhenus Logistics Australia enable us to cover the whole of Australia with our services. As a result of the acquisition, we’re gaining experienced employees with local expertise for the global operations of the Air & Ocean business unit at Rhenus Freight Logistics too,” says Jan Harnisch, Rhenus COO Ocean Freight Asia.

    The new Rhenus operations on the Australian continent are part of the logistics specialist’s expansion strategy in the Asia-Pacific region. Rhenus is planning to open a number of new business sites this year in this area, including centres in China, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines.

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  • XPO expands global supply chain support for Sealed Air

    XPO expands global supply chain support for Sealed Air

    XPO Logistics has expanded its global supply chain support for Sealed Air Corporation with the launch of an integrated warehousing and logistics management program in North America.

    Sealed Air is a global leader in food safety and security, facility hygiene, and product protection. XPO’s new operation supports four Sealed Air product lines – Diversey, Cryovac, Instapack and Taski – at a 550,000 sq. ft. warehouse in Sturtevant, Wisc. The facility will serve Sealed Air’s customers worldwide with inventory management, light assembly, kitting, labeling, fulfillment and distribution of orders.

    Emile Chammas, senior vice president and chief supply chain officer for Sealed Air, said, “We selected XPO Logistics for this critical role in our supply chain based on the strength of its global experience and ability to continuously improve logistics processes. Sealed Air looks forward to innovating with the XPO team to increase operational efficiency and ensure the highest level of service for our customers.”

    XPO already provides Sealed Air with technology-enabled logistics, warehousing and transportation management services in Europe, and with intermodal and less-than-truckload transportation in North America. The new contract represents a significant expansion of the relationship between the two companies.

    “We are delighted to bring additional value to Sealed Air’s supply chain with this major expansion of our role in North America,” said Ashfaque Chowdhury, XPO Logistics president-supply chain, Americas and Asia Pacific. “Sealed Air has entrusted us with delivering an advanced solution for warehousing and distribution. We are now engaged in bringing our expertise to bear from both sides of the Atlantic, to give this important customer every advantage in serving its global network.”

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  • Kerry Logistics buys 50% stake in Lanzhou Pacific

    Kerry Logistics buys 50% stake in Lanzhou Pacific

    Kerry Logistics has acquired of 50 per cent shares in Lanzhou Pacific Logistics Ltd. As the new shareholder and joint venture partner, Kerry Logistics will join hands with another shareholder of LPL, China Railway Container Transport Company Limited (CRCTC), in the management and operations of LPL. The investment marks another strategic step in advancing Kerry Logistics’ expansion into the rail freight and multimodal services under the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative.

    Founded in 2002, LPL specialises in intermodal brokerage services across China and Central Asia including Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Russia. Leveraging on CRCTC’s extensive rail network in China, LPL has a nationwide rail freight network covering more than 100 cities and provides container freight stations and domestic door-to-door logistics services. LPL’s clientele includes a number of Fortune 500 enterprises located in China, spanning the non-ferrous metals, chemicals, auto parts, agriculture, and building materials industries.

    William Ma, group managing director of Kerry Logistics, said, “This acquisition will enable us to draw on the vast opportunities created by the Belt and Road Initiative. Not only will it further strengthen our rail freight capability throughout China and Central Asia, but also allow us to consolidate our expertise in project logistics within our global network.”

    “It will additionally strengthen the rail and road network we have established in The Commonwealth of Independent States through our new joint venture. By constructing an integral multimodal freight chain that connects China, Central Asia, and Europe, we are committed to providing new options and cost-competitive intermodal solutions to our international customers,” Ma added.

    In August 2012, China’s State Council approved to make Lanzhou the fifth state-level development zone in the country. Lanzhou has historically been used as the gateway to the West, due to its strategic location on the geographical and cultural cusps between Northwestern China and Central Asia.

    The city has been chosen to be the major hub of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and a vast network of infrastructure, logistics and industrial zones, and sea ports is being planned that will stretch from East Asia to Western Europe, spanning 60 countries.

    Kerry Logistics was the market pioneer to complete the first westbound charter freight train from Yiwu, Eastern China to Madrid, Spain in August 2016. It also set foot on the first eastbound freight train from London to Yiwu in April 2017.

     

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  • Huawei Marine secures SAIL subsea cable contract

    Huawei Marine secures SAIL subsea cable contract

    For a segment of the market that doesn’t yet actually exist, the South Atlantic subsea cable business seems to be quite popular. Yesterday Huawei Marine inked a deal with China Unicom and Camtel to build the South Atlantic Inter Link, or SAIL, which will be a cable between Africa and South America.

    SAIL will connect the popular landing city of Fortaleza, Brazil with Cameroon, spanning some 6,000km. The plans call for four fiber pairs with an initial design capacity of 32Tbps.

    Camtel and Cameroon are aiming to make the country an infrastructure hub for Africa, and have Chinese backing to help make it happen.

    Readers may recall that a few months back, construction of SACS got underway in a rival project that will connect Fortaleza to Angola. That project has the Japanese giant NEC doing the heavy lifting for Angola Cables, and is expected to bring 40Tbps to bear.

    Both projects are aimed at being complete next year sometime. If both come to fruition on schedule, that route will go from zero to 72Tbps in a matter of months, although I rather doubt the traffic itself will spike so quickly.

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  • Winners Announced At The 10th Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia

    Winners Announced At The 10th Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia

    Honouring and recognising outstanding companies and individuals in the maritime industry, winners of the 10th Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia were announced on 23 June 2017 at the InterContinental Hong Kong.

    With close to 400 top maritime executives in attendance, Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia, celebrating its 10th anniversary this year is widely acknowledged as one of the region’s most prestigious industry awards. Held annually to commemorate inspiring industry peers on their extraordinary efforts and contributions towards the maritime industry, a total of 15 awards were presented this year.

    Winners for the 12 competitive categories were chosen by an independent panel of senior industry figures whilst recipients for the other three special awards namely the Seatrade Young Person of the Year Award, the Seatrade Personality of the Year Award and the Seatrade Lifetime Achievement Award, were decided by the Seatrade Senior Editorial Board.

    Randy Chen, vice chairman, Wan Hai Lines, was awarded the Seatrade Personality of the Year and Edward Buttery, CEO, Taylor Maritime (HK) Ltd, was presented with the Seatrade Young Person of the Year. The last award of the night, Seatrade Lifetime Achievement of the Year was presented to His Excellency Ambassador Carlos C. Salinas, chairman, Philippine Transmarine Carriers, Inc. The award recognised the highly important role Ambassador Salinas has played in the development of the Philippines as the world’s leading supplier of seafarers to international shipping.

    The Technical Innovation and Deal of the Year Awards were the two most hotly contested categories. ICBC Financial Leasing Co. Ltd emerged as the winner for the Deal of the Year Award, having won the same for two running years in 2014 and 2015. Their significant groundbreaking deal outshone the rest of the finalists. The Technical Innovation award was presented to Mampaey Offshore Industries who has impressed the judges with its innovative auto docking solution that improved safety in this most difficult of maritime operations.

    “Success of the Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia over the past 10 years would not have been possible without the unwavering support from our participants, sponsors, judges and supporting partners, of which we are deeply grateful and humbled. Seatrade Maritime Awards Asia 2018 will return to Singapore to be held in conjunction with the Singapore Maritime Week 2018 and we look forward to seeing you there,” Chris Hayman, chairman, Seatrade commented.

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  • South Korea joins DHL’s Asia-Europe multimodal network for more flexible freight services

    South Korea joins DHL’s Asia-Europe multimodal network for more flexible freight services

    DHL Global Forwarding, the leading international provider of air, sea and road freight services, has connected South Korea to its comprehensive Asia-Europe multimodal network, giving Korean businesses more flexible and efficient access to the country’s third-largest export market.1

    As part of the extension, new ferry services link ports in Incheon and Busan to a range of major Chinese ports including Shanghai, Taicang and Lianyungang. South Korean shipments will then travel via truck to major inland hubs in cities including Chengdu, Hefei, Suzhou and Xi’an for subsequent transport to Europe on DHL’s rail services. Korean businesses will also gain access to DHL’s Flexigateway service, which selects the optimal rail route for shipments based on available capacity and route speed at any given time — giving them clearly-defined transit times at the most efficient operating cost.

    “With South Korean exports to Europe this year growing at their fastest pace since 2011,2 the country’s major industries have greater need for flexible, scalable freight services than ever before,” said Charles Kaufman, CEO, North Asia; Managing Director, Japan; and Head, Value Added Services, Asia Pacific, DHL Global Forwarding. “While its level of global connectedness has remained relatively stable over the past few years,3 South Korea must continue to invest in deeper trade ties — and the infrastructure that sustains them — to key partners like the European Union and China if it wants to maintain its record of economic growth and development.”

    “Our new offerings like Flexigateway, combined with the range of value-added services already built into our multimodal network, seek to streamline and stabilize the logistics process for Korean businesses of all sizes.”

    DHL’s Asia-Europe multimodal services include specialized solutions for some of South Korea’s largest industries,4 including

    • Car racking and expert handling for automotive exporters;
    • Garment-on-hanger services for the fashion industry;
    • Temperature-controlled containers for technology manufacturers; and
    • Licenses, labelling, and dedicated warehousing for wine and spirits producers.

    The multimodal network is also supported by features including end-to-end customs handling, GPS tracking of containers and a range of cargo insurance options, minimizing the risks of delays and disruption for both full- and less-than-container load shipments on any route.

    “South Korea’s economy continues to rely heavily on value-added exports to grow, and reinforcing its existing trade partnerships will help it continue to weather global uncertainty,” said Seokpyo Song, Managing Director, DHL Global Forwarding Korea. “This new connection to our Asia-Europe multimodal network will not only improve the fundamentals of freight flexibility, cost and reliability for Korean businesses — it also directly addresses the unique needs of our country’s most crucial and well-regarded industries, giving them the confidence to pursue greater expansion overseas.”

    DHL continues to expand its Asia-Europe multimodal network to meet rapidly-growing demand from businesses in both regions, with the company launching its latest route — from Shenzhen to Minsk — in May 2017.

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  • Kerry launches new UK-China rail freight service

    Kerry launches new UK-China rail freight service

    Kerry Logistics Network announced the launch of its weekly scheduled Less Than Container Load (LCL) rail freight service between Duisburg, Germany and Shanghai via the Yiwu terminal in the Yangtze River Delta, China, using its own consolidation containers.

    This additional service option for east- and westbound shipments enhances Kerry Logistics’ existing Full Container Load (FCL) and LCL services, offering a transit time of 16 days for westbound cargo, and 21 days eastbound.

    Shipments have already been successfully moved using the new service, which offers weekly departures on Friday eastbound and Wednesday westbound.

    The rail freight solution is part of Kerry Logistics’ end-to-end freight management service, which provides an unrivalled range of upstream services, including storage, quality control, assembly, and reworking in addition to the pre-carriage and delivery to final destination.

    Thomas Blank, managing director of Europe, Kerry Logistics, said, “Our proven track record and unparalleled service network in Asia, together with our local expertise throughout Europe, promise that we can now offer our customers a flexible, cost-effective solution on this route for cargoes from industrial freight, down to smaller e-commerce commodities.

    “Acting as the consolidator ourselves allows us to offer shorter lead times, moving each shipment faster than if we had to wait for a full container from each customer, who can monitor their cargo along the route via online track and trace.

    “We can be more reactive to our customers’ rapidly evolving needs,” Blank added.

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  • Ceva achieves CEIV certification in Singapore

    Ceva achieves CEIV certification in Singapore

    Ceva Logistics has been awarded IATA’s CEIV status at its facility in Singapore. CEIV is designed to indicate a company or branch’s level of competency as well as operational and technical preparedness in the global transportation by air of pharmaceutical products. A certified pharmaceutical location meets consistent standards and is fully capable of assuring product integrity.

    CEVA staff in Singapore have undertaken a comprehensive training program conducted jointly by IATA and Changi Airport Group, in readiness for certification. A quality team was established at the company’s facility at the Air Logistics Park of Singapore (ALPS) within the Free Trade Zone and this group coordinated and implemented the CEIV process.

    “Our 90,000 sq feet facility is fully accredited for the full range of active and passive temperature ranges,” says Michael Yip, SVP Freight Management of CEVA’s South East Asia cluster. We are the largest user and operator of active RKN e1 equipment outbound from Singapore and this new CEIV status recognises the full scope of our capabilities”.

  • Fusionex wins contract with Asian logistics and communications provider

    Fusionex wins contract with Asian logistics and communications provider

    Fusionex, a software solutions provider specialising in Big Data Analytics (BDA), the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and Deep Learning, has won a multi-million dollar multi-year contract to deliver a data management solution for an Asian logistics and communications service provider to revamp how it engages with customers.

    The client is one of the leading logistics and communications providers with a presence in more than 1,000 locations nationwide. Among the services offered by the client are 24-hour outlets, self-service terminals, mobile outlets, postal agents, and stamp agents.

    In line with the client’s plans to revolutionise their businesses processes and bolster their ability to compete in a modernising world, the data-driven customer relationship and analytics solution is intended to increase the user-friendliness of their services and simplify their interactions with customers.

    Operating such a huge organisation with outlets across multiple locations proved to be cumbersome especially when seeking to craft overall corporate strategies from disparate datasets. Each location had their own set of data idling in physical storages and legacy IT systems which were also hard to access due to differing formats.

    The types of customers who were catered to in those various locations also differed based on age, gender, income, whether they lived in urban or rural areas, and other demographics. Consolidating all their customer engagements into a single platform would help the client tremendously in automating their customer engagement processes and streamlining their response times.

    Previously, customer engagement officers were only able to view records available to each particular branch, but now they can see all records of their engagements with specific customers, thanks to the consolidated platform. Now, when a customer calls a branch, the officer in charge would be able to see the customer’s entire call history including calls to other branches, and what complaints had been made before – all on a single screen.

    This will help improve customer engagement quality and response time, where the customer’s complaints can be dealt with the instant the phone is picked up, rather than having to check with a colleague or a superior and then getting back to the customer at a later time. This consolidated solution will also be applied to the client’s subsidiaries, bestowing them with the convenience of streamlining customer information at a greater pace.

    Data management and insights mining will also be carried out for the client via Big Data Analytics platform Fusionex GIANT 2017. This platform will help the client draw data related information to its customers, vendors, suppliers, and internal business processes. From all this disparate data, GIANT 2017 can piece together past patterns and make predictions of future trends.

    This gives the client the ability to gain insights into everything that’s happening within the organisation, as well as foresights into the future and how the organisation can adapt. The client will also be able to craft new products and services, decide on expansion plans, and other strategic moves with more accuracy, confidence, and a higher chance for success.

    Ivan Teh, Fusionex managing director and chief executive officer, commented: “The team is excited and can’t wait to roll out our solution to give the client a greater edge over their competition. IT solutions have the potential to be game changers in this day and age and we believe the client will begin reaping immense benefits from the get go once this project goes live.”

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  • Crown Equipment expands Shanghai operations

    Crown Equipment expands Shanghai operations

    Crown Equipment Corporation is expanding in Shanghai with a new facility to support growing customer needs in the region. The facility includes space for extensive new equipment inventory, a parts distribution centre, training facility for mainland China, technology demonstration centre as well as local sales, parts and customer service operations for the Shanghai area.

    “The new location is vital to support our customers’ evolving needs in China,” said Tom Kieffer, managing director of commercial operations, Crown Equipment. “Our goal is to become the first choice of our customers, which requires that we have outstanding parts and truck availability to provide excellent customer support. Our new facility provides the expansion needed to achieve this goal.”

    The facility’s technology demonstration centre is designed to help customers make informed purchasing decisions when it comes to advanced material handling equipment and technology needed to increase the productivity of their operations. The centre will showcase the latest forklifts and technology from Crown, including the QuickPick Remote order picking system that uses automated truck navigation technologies to reduce low-level order picking walk steps, and Crown’s InfoLink wireless operator and fleet management system.

    Along with having access to a complete selection of Crown’s award-winning forklifts and Integrity Parts and Service System, customers can take advantage of Crown’s Demonstrated Performance Training programs that offer a comprehensive range of forklift training formats for operators, supervisors, trainers, technicians and pedestrians.

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  • Global maritime shipping industry at the tipping point of digitisation

    Global maritime shipping industry at the tipping point of digitisation

    The maritime industry and broader ocean supply chain are suffering from major and costly inefficiencies due to ineffective data sharing and poor cross-industry collaboration, according to a new report and industry survey released by the Business Performance Innovation (BPI) Network in coordination with Navis and XVELA, both part of Cargotec’s Kalmar business area.

    The study, “Competitive Gain in the Ocean Supply Chain: Innovation That’s Driving Maritime Operational Transformation”, finds huge opportunities to improve performance and customer service through better use of technology across the ocean supply chain.

    The study is based on a global survey of more than 200 executives and professionals from terminal operators, carriers, logistics providers, vessel owners, port authorities, shippers, consignees and other members of the global ocean supply chain. It was developed in partnership with maritime industry technology leaders Navis and XVELA.

    The study indicates that importers, exporters, container carriers, terminal operators, vessel owners and other stakeholders suffer from poor visibility and predictability around shipments and are losing money due to a lack of partner synchronisation and insufficient data insight.

    However, there is recognition, particularly among industry leaders interviewed, that digitisation and mindset shifts are afoot, and will be a boon to all players in the industry. “Everyone benefits from collaboration and data sharing,” says Andreas Mrozek, Global Head Marine & Terminal Operations for the Hamburg Sud Group, one of the world’s largest container shipping lines. “It starts with the customers and moves to the carriers, then the terminal operators, vendors, freight systems, truck companies, and keeps going down the line. Closer collaboration is a compelling value proposition for each supply chain partner.”

    90 percent of survey participants said real-time data access and information sharing was important to increasing the efficiency and performance of the shipping industry. Some 80 percent said the industry needs to improve supply chain visibility.

    The push for improvements will likely come from a combination of forces, according to industry executives. Shippers will push for better operational visibility; alliances will demand better ways for their carrier members to share information to improve efficiencies and customer service; and terminals and port authorities under pressure to increase utilisation and optimise existing infrastructures.

    On average, surveyed executives estimated that each of a wide range of ocean supply chain processes could be improved by as much as 66 percent and no less than 55 percent if the industry updated its IT systems and improved its ability to share data with other members of the supply chain.

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  • Etihad partners with DHL to enhance MRO logistics

    Etihad partners with DHL to enhance MRO logistics

    Etihad Airways Engineering, the largest commercial aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) services provider in the Middle East, has signed a Letter of Intent with DHL Supply Chain, the contract logistics specialist within Deutsche Post DHL Group, to outsource its entire internal logistics functions.

    DHL Supply Chain will manage stores, local transport movements and associated supply chain planning at the Etihad Airways Engineering hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport.

    Jeff Wilkinson, chief executive officer of Etihad Airways Engineering, said: “We see this agreement as a win-win opportunity not just for Etihad Airways Engineering and DHL Supply Chain, but also for our customers around the world who will be served more efficiently and cost effectively as an outcome of the partnership.”

    David Christmas, CEO DHL Supply Chain Middle East, Russia & Turkey, said: “This is a significant business win for DHL in the United Arab Emirates. We have a long-standing relationship with Etihad Airways Engineering, which will continue to maintain our aircraft. Our new partnership will build on and broaden this relationship, synergizing the unique strengths of each partner to maximize efficiency and profitability.”

    “The supply chain performance and solution has a major impact on the effectiveness of the MRO function. Our expertise and services will help Etihad Airways Engineering to progress towards its vision and meet its strategic agenda effectively. Transforming the MRO logistics and warehousing solution will help them to remain competitive today and build capability for tomorrow.”

    The supply chain will be scalable in order to respond to MRO sector growth and will be able to adapt to future operational requirements. By introducing logistics planning and control, DHL brings robust processes to Etihad Airways Engineering’s supply chain to which aligned storage capacity planning and inventory policies compose a major element. Response lead times will be reduced through efficient pick processes and performance indicators for every logistics and warehousing function. Apart from process optimization, DHL will also introduce several changes in the layout of Etihad’s current warehouse, improving the space already available and setting up an external off-airport warehouse able to accommodate necessary inventory and part storage.

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  • XPO Logistics awarded contract by Fujitsu

    XPO Logistics awarded contract by Fujitsu

    XPO Logistics has been awarded a new contract by Fujitsu General Air Conditioning (UK) to provide supply chain and specialist transport services across the UK for Fujitsu’s commercial air conditioning units.

    One-man and two-man crews will deliver the units to offices and industrial buildings both as direct orders and via distributors. In securing the contract, XPO worked in collaboration with Fujitsu to design an optimal solution for the company and its customers. XPO will accommodate 4,000 pallets of air conditioning units on site at its warehouse in Aylesford, Kent, using bespoke technology to track shipments inbound from non-UK markets. XPO will flex its transport and logistics resources to accommodate seasonality, transporting an estimated 11,000 pallets annually using its warehouse management technology to manage flows, control stock levels and report on performance.

    Ian Carroll, sales director of Fujitsu General Air Conditioning (UK), said: “XPO Logistics have enabled us to go above and beyond what we’ve previously been able to do.” He continued: “By offering online tracking of shipments, a mobile app for our customers and considerable transport capability we are able to fulfil client orders more efficiently and accurately, with clear visibility as to shipment progress, which leaves us free to focus on growing our business.”

    Operating from ten depots with an extensive network of fleets and drivers, XPO’s specialist delivery network covers mainland UK and is supported by a central customer service team in its Birmingham hub.

    Dave Finnie, business unit director at XPO Logistics, said: “We share Fujitsu’s commitment to superior customer service and productivity. Our teams have brought together their industrial expertise in value-added warehousing, inventory management and specialist transport to create a bespoke solution for Fujitsu. These complex deliveries will be facilitated by our leading IT solutions, including mobile applications that manage flexible and timed deliveries for the best possible customer experience.”

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  • CEVA opens an office in Myanmar

    CEVA opens an office in Myanmar

    As part of its strategic expansion in the emerging Mekong markets, CEVA Logistics, one of the world’s largest supply chain management companies, has opened its office in Myanmar’s capital, Yangon.

    For the last five years, CEVA has been operational in the country through a network partner, providing freight management services to a number of multinational and local customers.

    Effective June 2017, the company now has its own office, offering the full spectrum of air and ocean freight services with access to the CEVA network using One Freight System (OFS) – CEVA’s global system which manages all freight movements worldwide.

    Myanmar presents considerable potential for growth with strong demand for both import and export services. Imports comprise mainly industrial materials for infrastructure, consumer goods and machinery, whilst exports of commodities, agricultural products and goods for the retail sector drive the outbound trade. With its expertise in the industrial and consumer and retail sectors among others, CEVA is well positioned to offer professional and competitive services.

    “Myanmar is a country with real opportunities for growth. It has a population of some 55 million people who are looking to companies like CEVA to provide supply chain services to support their developing business and meet their requirements. In the past, the country infrastructure has always been a limiting and inhibiting factor but with our global network and more importantly, our experience in emerging markets, especially in the region, we are confident that with our own office and robust IT offerings we can deliver options and solutions to the market and at the same time grow our commercial footprint”, says Bruno Plantaz, CEVA’s managing director Mekong cluster.

  • DHL beefs up cold chain to US and Asia

    DHL beefs up cold chain to US and Asia

    DHL Global Forwarding, the air and ocean freight specialist of Deutsche Post group, says it is going to accelerate the supply chain for the north Norwegian seafood industry.

    DHL has started shipping live crabs and seafood from the Lakselv Airport Banak in north Norway to Asia and Northern America.

    On dedicated weekly flights, DHL transports the fresh seafood to the DHL terminal in Oslo, from where the freight is sent to South Korea and other destinations such as Japan or the United States.

    From the origin, which is only 100km from the North Cape, to its destination in Asia the whole logistics is exactly timed, ensuring the shipments are delivered in perfect condition.

    Tim Robertson, head of Air Freight, DHL Global Forwarding, Americas, said: ‘Thanks to our team of experts, who understand temperature control requirements, regulations, food safety and quality control guidelines, this seafood and fish is able to get to market and to consumers in the most expedient way possible.’

    DHL said transporting the fresh seafood by plane allows it to cut the lead time nearly by 50 per cent. This ensures that living crabs and other fresh seafood arrive at their destination in the best condition.

    Bjørn-Erik Stabell, marketing manager for salmon and trout at the Norwegian Seafood Council, said: ‘Time is of the essence when it comes to delivering fresh seafood of the very best quality. Norway is a long country, and with a large proportion of seafood being produced in the north, this air freight route is an important contribution to efficiently reaching seafood consumers across the world.’

    DHL is aiming to increase the frequency of deliveries from Oslo to Asia to three flights per week. From Oslo, almost 90 per cent of the fish is flown directly to Seoul in South Korea, while approximately 10 per cent is further directed to destinations in the US, Japan and China.

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