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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.

  • Qatar Airways Cargo introduces additional pharma express flights

    Qatar Airways Cargo introduces additional pharma express flights

    In a non-stop industry like container handling, efficiency is king and downtime can be costly. One company that knows this first-hand is Port of Melbourne- based CC Containers, which prides itself on efficiency, reliability and safety.

    CC Containers selected United Forklift and Access Solutions to provide the company with Konecranes empty container handling lift trucks to expand its container handling fleet with world-class equipment built tough to cope with high-pace demands and to optimise efficiency for its customers.

    United Forklift and Access Solutions, which is national distributor for Konecranes forklift and container handling equipment also backed the new technology with a dedicated full-time technician on-site for the maintenance, repair and upkeep of the new units, as well as other existing units.

    United supplied a total of five Konecranes SMV empty container handlers to suit CC Container’s expanding operational needs.

    “The container handlers are reliable robust pieces of equipment,” said Mr David Muir, managing director of CC Containers, whose company places a high emphasis on standards of reliability and safety.

    “The other major bonus for us is that the drivers like using them. They have good visibility and comfort and are easy to use, which makes a big difference to staff performance,” says Muir.

    In addition to the advanced container handling technologies, United also provided CC Containers with an experienced full-time technician, Gene Roberts, who is on-site and can respond to any maintenance or repair issues quickly and effectively.

    “Mr Roberts has been a great help to us at CC Containers. He has helped with servicing, monitoring and OH&S requirements, which means we are always meeting or exceeding compliance and standards objectives,” said Muir.

    Konecranes is a major global player in the design and manufacture of heavy duty forklifts, reach stackers and container handling equipment, with its SMV series purpose-built to quickly lift, move and sort both empty and full containers in and around ports. Designed to cope with high demands with both speed and efficiency, the Konecranes empty container handlers in service with CC Containers offer a very fast total operating speed as a function of lifting, lowering and driving speed based on load-sensing hydraulics to cope with extreme demands. The container lift trucks also feature the new Optima cabin – which has enhanced cabin space and visibility – and an extensive range of innovative features which optimise quality, productivity and life cycle cost.

    CC Containers’ expanded Konecranes empty container handlersfleet includes:

    • The ECB 80 empty container handler, which can stack six containers high up to eight tonnes
    • The ECB 90 empty container handler, which can stack seven-eight containers highup to nine tonnes
    • The ECB 100DS empty container handler which can lift two boxes at the same time, up to 10 tonnes capacity, and stack six-seven containers high.
  • DHL broadens logistics reach in Thailand

    DHL broadens logistics reach in Thailand

    DHL E-commerce, a unit of Deutsche Post DHL Group, has expanded its logistics service in the Thai market with nationwide coverage and price-competitive business-to-consumer (B2C) international shipping.

    There is also pick-up service for small e-commerce merchants and the 2.7 million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand where online sales are growing rapidly, according to top executives.

    Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL E-commerce, said Thailand has a huge growth potential for e-commerce because online sales currently account for only 2 per cent of total retail sales, compared with the global average of 9 per cent.

    Among Asean countries, Singapore’s online sales are the most developed, accounting for 4.5 per cent of total retail sales, compared with Indonesia’s 0.5 per cent of total retail sales.

    To support e-commerce growth, the Thai government needs to help develop the ecosystem for online transactions, e-payment as well as transport and other logistic services.

    Over the past year, DHL has branched into the so-called last mile service for e-commerce in Southeast Asia with a complete range of delivery, pick-up, warehousing and related services as high-volume e-commerce transactions boom in the region due to the high penetration rate of smartphones and other factors.

    Customer expectations on delivery time have also shifted towards the so-called “next day” delivery after placing their purchase orders online, prompting DHL to offer faster services in the Thai market.

    “The e-commerce market in Thailand is the second largest in Southeast Asia and expected to grow 22 per cent annually towards 2020. There are increasing demands for cost-effective and high quality logistic solutions to meet rising consumer needs,” said Kiattichai Pitpreecha, managing director of DHL E-commerce Thailand.

    For Thai SMEs, the expanded service will allow them to deliver products to customers with greater convenience and a faster process so that they spend less time travelling and waiting to drop off their goods.

    With a 3,222-square-metre e-commerce logistic centre in Bangkok, plus vehicles and other facilities, the firm is equipped to deliver 15 million shipments per year in Thailand.

    For merchants, DHL also offers a cash-on-delivery service with daily remittances plus access to a multilingual call centre and easy IT integration to handle online orders so that shippers can easily prepare orders for delivery into the DHL network.

    In addition, DHL offers cross-border services to help Thai customers expand into overseas markets at a competitive price based on a pay-per-use solution.

    Malcolm Monteiro, CEO of DHL E-commerce Asia Pacific, said the government’s recent initiative has boosted opportunities for businesses and industries, especially SMEs, to digitise their operations and services.

    With as many as 2.7 million SMEs, Thailand is seen as a high growth market where these firms will extend their business models into online marketplaces where DHL aims to enable their businesses to leverage the e-commerce potential both domestically and internationally.

    Besides the e-commerce service, DHL has long been a provider of international express delivery services which can help connect Thai SMEs to the global online market.

    At present, DHL has a network of fulfilment centres in the US, Mexico, Europe, Hong Kong, Australia and India, allowing merchandise to get to consumers in those regions faster.

    According to Brewer, the cross-border B2C, or retail e-commerce, is projected to grow to US$1 trillion in 2020 as the DHL operation in Thailand also witnesses a significant growth in this segment over the past year.

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  • DHL, Huawei enter ambitious automation partnership

    DHL, Huawei enter ambitious automation partnership

    Deutsche Post DHL Group and Chinese technology conglomerate Huawei Technologies are collaborating on a range of supply chain services for customers using “industrial-grade internet-of-things hardware and infrastructure.”

    The internet of things (IoT) refers to physical devices, such as vehicles, buildings and other items, that are embedded with electronics, software, sensors, actuators and network connectivity that can communicate with each other. That shared information is then utilized to automate and streamline processes. For example, sensors in refrigerators can read bar codes of products and make sure the milk is fresh and the beer is adequately stocked.

    Deutsche Post DHL estimates that the IoT could generate up to US$1.9 trillion in additional value for the global logistics industry by 2025. The logistics company sees the new technology as a way for operators to “better monitor and optimize their supply chain processes with low-cost networked sensors and devices.”

    Under the MOU, Huawei and Deutsche Post DHL Group will collaborate on developing cellular-based IoT technology. The projects will tackle ways to connect numerous devices across long distances with minimal power consumption. Connected devices will share data and to increase visibility in warehousing operations, freight transportation, and last-mile delivery.

    The agreement assigns Huawei’s connectivity experts and network infrastructure accessible to Deutsche Post DHL Group’s automation projects in warehousing, freight and last-mile delivery services.

    “Spending on connected logistics solutions is expected to more than double between now and 2020, and many logistics providers, including Deutsche Post DHL Group, have already begun to explore internet of things applications in their supply chains, including everything from enhanced asset tracking to driverless delivery vehicles,” said Markus Voss, COO and CIO of DHL Supply Chain.

    DHL has already opened its €90 million Advanced Regional Center in Singapore in 2016, featuring almost-entirely automated picking and storing infrastructure that the company says is 20 percent more efficiently than its human equivalent.

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  • World’s largest container ship docks in southern Vietnam

    World’s largest container ship docks in southern Vietnam

    A giant container vessel arrived at Cai Mep International Terminal in Vietnam’s southern region Monday, helping mark the port on the world’s shipping map.

    The 194,000-DWT Margrethe Maersk of 399 meters long of the world’s biggest container ship family was built in 2015 and is owned by Denmark’s Maersk Line. The vessel can carry 18,300 TEU (twenty-foot equivalent unit).

    Cai Mep in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau is now among the world’s 19 ports which can accommodate Triple-E class container ships of more than 18,000 TEU.

    Vietnamese transport officials said the arrival marked “a milestone” in the country’s shipping history as they aim to develop Cai Mep into a transit port for cargo shipping between Asia and northern Europe.

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  • DHL eCommerce launches Fulfillment Center in Sydney

    DHL eCommerce launches Fulfillment Center in Sydney

    The Fulfillment Center will provide overseas merchants with fast, flexible shipping that integrates inbound freight, inventory, and last mile delivery in a single consolidated service.

    DHL eCommerce, a division of the world’s leading logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group, announced the launch of its Fulfillment Center in Sydney, Australia to support booming demand for overseas goods amongst Australia’s online shoppers. International brands and retailers are now able to reach out to the rapidly growing Australia market.

    “Australian shoppers are the second-most likely in the world to buy online from overseas merchants, and the significance of their purchasing power will only increase as cross-border e-commerce grows at an average of 29 percent per year until 2020,” said Damien Sheehan, managing director Australia, DHL eCommerce. “Online retailers need to overcome the traditional problems associated with overseas expansion – finding new suppliers in each market, delivering shipments within days not weeks, and keeping costs in check – if they want to stay competitive in this borderless future.”

    Adding, “The launch of our Australian Fulfillment Center gives our customers immediate access to one of the world’s most mature and fastest growing e-commerce markets, with the scalability and quality needed to reach Australia’s highly savvy online shoppers.”

    The Fulfillment Center will provide overseas merchants with fast, flexible shipping that integrates inbound freight, inventory, and last mile delivery in a single consolidated service. The center also operates using the same service level agreements, management platforms, and customer support as all other parts of DHL eCommerce’s global Fulfillment network, allowing existing customers to expand their sales into Australia with minimal onboarding time and hassle.

    “E-commerce has gone borderless, and order fulfilment needs to do the same,” says Charles Brewer, CEO DHL eCommerce. “Our Australian facility adds another node to our standardized global network of Fulfillment Centers located in US, Mexico, India, Hong Kong and Central Europe, eliminating the need for e-commerce merchants to hunt for new logistics partners as they look to expand their global reach.”

    The center’s design accommodates front-end integration with a range of popular marketplace and web-shop platforms, as well as multichannel order management and last-mile solutions for immediate and highly-accurate deliveries all across Australia. All of the center’s services operate on a pay-per-use model with no capital spend or fixed costs.

    “The value of Australian e-commerce sales is expected to grow by nearly 50 percent between now and 2020, making cost-effectiveness and scalability the critical issues for online retailers in the country,” said Malcolm Monteiro, CEO Asia Pacific, DHL eCommerce. “Whether it’s extending into new channels, offering more delivery options, or simply increasing inventory and warehouse capacity, global brands need fulfilment solutions that can adapt to their needs without requiring hands-on intervention every time a change occurs.”

    Concluding, “Global e-tailers can access our latest fulfillment center for simplified nationwide inventory and last-mile delivery and also as part of a rapid and painless global expansion.”

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  • Logistics expected to make up 8-10 percent of Vietnam’s GDP by 2025

    Logistics expected to make up 8-10 percent of Vietnam’s GDP by 2025

    The target was set in an action plan on enhancing competitiveness and developing logistics services by 2025 recently approved by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

    Under the plan, the logistics sector is expected to grow by 15 – 20 percent by 2025.

    The action plan also aims to make Vietnam one of the world’s 50 leading logistics service providers and to reduce logistics costs to 16 – 20 percent of GDP.

    To achieve the goals, the plan suggested improving policies, attracting more investment into logistics infrastructure and fostering cooperation between local logistics firms and international partners.

    It also hopes to enhance logistic infrastructure connectivity to link Vietnamese ports with neighbouring countries.

    According to the plan, investment is called for the construction of type I logistic hubs in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and type II logistic centres localities such as Lang Son, Lao Cai, Hai Phong, Da Nang, Quy Nhon and Can Tho.

  • Vietnam vows to cut down the time for customs clearance

    Vietnam vows to cut down the time for customs clearance

    According to the World Bank, Viet Nam’s commercial transactions across borders index, a measurement of time and cost in import and export activities, has fallen for two consecutive years (2014-2015) due to inadequate management.

    A study conducted by the Viet Nam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the General Department of Viet Nam Customs showed that the total time for customs clearance takes about 28 per cent of the time while the other 72 per cent is spent on other procedures and management including specialised checks on imports and exports.

    These are indications that specialised management for imports and exports has prolonged the time for customs clearance and increased costs for enterprises.

    In your opinion, what are the main causes then?

    The first thing I should mention is cumbersome legal documents on customs checks. In addition, many goods have no data provided on them for commercial transactions across borders index.

    Coupled with that is that most specialised checks are done by hand or the application of modern information technology to dossiers classification or information exchange between Vietnamese government agencies.

    What is the key reason for increasing the time for customs clearance for specialised checks in our country four times slower than that of other country?

    Before 2016, in our country about 30-35 per cent of goods had to go through specialised checks at customs while in other countries, the rate was just from 5-8 per cent. That is one of the reasons why Resolution 19/2016 has laid emphasis on improving the business environment and national competitive capacity.

    The government’s resolution sets specific targets for each year. For example by the end of last year (2016) only 15 per cent of specialised goods should have been checked and eight per cent by 2020.

    To achieve these targets, it is imperative for the customs sector to make a change in their management methods and in their specialised checks. To achieve these targets, the customs office must practice risk assessments and common international customs clearance procedures, including using IT in information sharing between concerned agencies and the customs office.

    To shorten the customs clearance time, many countries perform customs checking in factories. Can we do that in Viet Nam?

    Checking goods right at factories is common in many countries now.

    With this method, instead of checking the goods at the border gate, representatives of the importing countries go to exporting countries and check the goods in the factories. After finishing their checks on the goods quality, pattern, production chains and more, if they meet required standards, the goods will be certified to go through customs procedures.

    Of course, some international practice and norms will be applied, including risk assessment. However, for imported goods coming from countries with higher standards than ours like the US, EU, Japan or South Korea they will enjoy special treatment when they go through customs. Vice versa, for countries that have often encroached upon our laws, they will be subject to tight checks.

    The PM has set a target that by 2020, all import and export goods must not take more than five days to go through customs clearance. Is this feasible?

    If Government Resolution 19/2017 is implemented, by late 2017 customs clearance will take on average 160 hours. So to achieve the target set by the PM by 2020 for five days (120 hours) customs clearance will be a big challenge.

    To achieve this target, all concerned ministries and sectors have to review and revise 362 legal documents, of which 87 of them have to change in the next few months. Of course, the task is demanding. But we’ll try to do our best to meet the target.

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  • FedEx to bolster its e-commerce business in Asia

    FedEx to bolster its e-commerce business in Asia

    FedEx will expand its global e-commerce business in an effort to compete for the growing number of packages shipped to consumers from China and Japan, executives said Monday.

    The company, which in 2014 acquired Bongo International, a company that helps shoppers purchase goods from foreign retailers by automatically adjusting currencies, and customs and shipping costs, by location, is rebranding the business as FedEx CrossBorder. The company plans to expand its services to merchants in China and Japan by next June, said Chip Hull, vice president of the newly named division. The company already consolidates shipments for global e-commerce retailers in the U.S., Europe and Peru.

    Asia “is the second-largest region from an export perspective in the cross-border space, on par with Europe, and is growing at a faster rate,” Hull said. As global e-commerce grows at double-digit rates around the world, “Asia is certainly the 800-pound gorilla in the room.”

    FedEx’s international e-commerce efforts have come as other companies are investing in helping retailers with international online-shopping services. United Parcel Service acquired i-Parcel around the same time that FedEx bought Bongo, and Pitney Bowes acquired Borderfree last year. Deutsche Post AG’s DHL also offers international e-commerce services.

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  • Warehouses coming to Laos, Cambodia gates

    Warehouses coming to Laos, Cambodia gates

    Viet Nam will have some 116 warehouses at the border gates with Laos and Cambodia by 2035, according to the Ministry of Industry and Trade.

    Under Decision 229/QD-BCT issued on January 23, the ministry said it would develop professional and modern warehouses with enough logistics services to keep import and export goods at these border gates.

    The warehousing system will promote sustainable development of import and export activities along the border lines, especially exports at border gates along border lines between Viet Nam and the two countries.

    According to specific targets of the plan, by 2025, the warehousing system will meet all demand of the area and have enough capacity to store import and export goods at the border gate regions.

    Eighty per cent of the warehouses will be required to provide important and necessary logistics services, such as storage, handling, inspection and implementation of customs procedures for import and export goods.

    The plan includes the upgrade or building of at least one warehouse at an international border gate region or a major border gate to meet the demand of import and export goods. All goods under the warehousing system will be inspected for quality, food hygiene, safety and other related standards.

    The ministry expected the plan to ensure stability and step-by-step promote growth of imports and exports at border gates along border lines between Viet Nam and the two countries.

    By 2035, all border gates along those border lines will have a completed warehousing system, including 116 existing and newly-built warehouses, to meet all warehousing demand for import and export goods and provide synchronous logistics services for promoting rapid and sustainable development of import and export activities, the ministry said.

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  • DHL Supply Chain appoints Jerome Gillet as CEO of its new Singapore cluster

    DHL Supply Chain appoints Jerome Gillet as CEO of its new Singapore cluster

    DHL Supply Chain, which is involved in contract logistics solutions, has named Jerome Gillet as CEO of the new Singapore cluster which includes Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.

    In this role, Gillet will continue to report to DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific CEO Terry Ryan, while remaining as a member of the regional board.

    The appointment will bring synergy for the three markets and drive new growth for the region.

    The DHL Supply Chain businesses locally will continue to be led by the respective country heads – Jason Goh, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Singapore; Mike Davies, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Malaysia; and Suzie Mitchell, managing director, DHL Supply Chain Philippines — who now report to Gillet.

    “We see tremendous opportunity in Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines to grow our business with even more focus on greater service quality in the markets. Jerome has repeatedly demonstrated his commitment to customer needs, and, in a changing economic climate, he is well placed to help customers deliver greater value from their supply chains,” said.

    “An innovator and strategic leader, Jerome is well suited to lead the next stage of growth transformation in our Singapore cluster. With his track record of delivering accelerated growth and building strong customer relationships, I am confident he will drive this new cluster in achieving high and sustainable growth.”

    “I am looking forward to accelerating growth in the newly formed cluster with a strong focus on quality, innovation and customer centricity,” said Gillet.

    Gillet’s career in logistics spans over 20 years (the last 17 years in the Asia Pacific) and includes roles in general management, operations and business development. His last appointment as chief customer officer (CCO) of DHL Supply Chain Asia Pacific saw him turn Asia Pacific into the fastest-growing region worldwide within DHL Supply Chain.

    The growth was driven by his business development efforts in key sectors such as Consumer & Retail, Technology and Life Sciences.

    Prior to his role as the CCO, Gillet was the vice president of Consumer sector for Asia Pacific, and increased annual new business gains by over 200% between 2008 and 2014.

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  • Last Mile Fulfilment Asia returns for the third edition from 2 to 3 March 2017

    Last Mile Fulfilment Asia returns for the third edition from 2 to 3 March 2017

    Last Mile Fulfilment Asia (LMFAsia), the region’s premier trade show for the retail, ecommerce, logistics and parcel industries, returns with the third edition on 2 to 3 March 2017. Themed “Go Global, Deliver Local”, the event aims to drive and strengthen a borderless fulfilment process, where in-market industry players fortify their business locally whilst expanding their foothold in the region through perfecting the last mile beyond borders.

    Amidst a backdrop of economic uncertainties today, Southeast Asia ecommerce market continues to grow to 16 times and will reach $88 billion by 2025 . The two-day conference and exhibition, organised by SingEx Exhibitions will deep-dive into the need to tap on the potential growth of ecommerce, and optimise the cross border fulfilment and delivery processes.

    The multi-track conference component of the trade show will focus on evolutionary topics such as turning fulfilment challenges into opportunities, designing cross-border fulfilment solutions across Asia. In recognising that the last mile of the fulfilment process costs almost 28 per cent of total cost of moving goods , achieving cost efficiency through innovative logistics solutions will be key to amplify the ecommerce market that is already expanding at rapid speed in the region. According to Frost & Sullivan, the global B2B ecommerce market alone will reach US$6.7 trillion by 2020. The 2017 conference will feature a new track “The Future of ecommerce is B2B ecommerce”, in which industry speakers from renowned retail, ecommerce and logistics leaders will share keynotes, highlighting the potential wins of adapting a successful B2C model into the B2B segment to conduct ecommerce business in a similar fashion.

    Separately, the exhibition component of Last Mile Fulfilment Asia will offer a convenient business matching platform for innovative companies to meet potential business partners, and showcase products and technologies that add value in the delivery chain. There will be three thematic zones dedicated to specific solution categories ranging from last mile, fulfilment centres, warehousing to automation.

    Adrian Sng, general manager of SingEx Exhibitions said, “Industry giants from China and US are pursuing significant ecommerce market shares in Asia and it will be a challenging year with headwinds affecting many in the fulfilment business. In order for companies to gain a competitive edge, there is a need to leverage technology to advance and conquer the last mile. This year’s overarching objective will be to bring this to the forefront. Through our focused strategy of curating trade events in emerging markets and industries with high-growth potential, Last Mile Fulfilment Asia will be a driving force for change that will see ecommerce and the fulfilment business playing a much more significant role in the region.”

    Charles Brewer, chief executive officer of DHL eCommerce, who will be sharing during the conference on leveraging opportunities presented in cross-border ecommerce, acknowledges the game-changing benefits last mile fulfilment will bring. “Perfecting logistics is the key to delivering the best ecommerce experience and a great chance to deliver a smile in the last mile. I am looking forward to sharing and connecting with other ecommerce players at the conference to discuss latest trends in this very exciting industry.”

    Joseph Yuen, board chairman of the Hong Kong federation of ecommerce and managing director of China Post Trade Development Company Limited, will also be speaking during the conference on paving the way into doing business in China through “11.11” case study. “Technology brings businesses closer to each other and around the world, but successful cross border ecommerce does need a mastery in the difference in culture, trade practices, government policy and others. On this note, Last Mile Fulfilment Asia 2017 provides a great opportunity for industry stakeholders to catch up with the latest trends and solutions in cross-border ecommerce.”

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  • Global logistics executives pick India as leading investment spot

    Global logistics executives pick India as leading investment spot

    Agility Logistics has launched the 2017 Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index, an annual survey of more than 800 logistics professionals. The Index provides an annual snapshot of industry sentiment and a ranking of the world’s 50 leading emerging markets by size, business conditions, infrastructure and transport connections.

    Logistics executives pick India is their top investment destination and say the health of China’s economy is likely to set the tone for emerging markets overall in 2017 in a new supply chain industry survey.

    China, the world’s second-largest economy, again topped the 50-country ranking. India climbed past the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to the second spot, its highest-ever Index ranking. Malaysia at fourth and Indonesia at sixth were unchanged from a year ago.

    In the survey, industry executives identified India as the emerging market with the most potential as a logistics market and as the place their companies are most likely to invest in the next five years. 23 percent of survey respondents said passage of a key tax reform made their companies more likely to invest in India.

    “India’s economy has grown faster than any in the world over the past two years,” said Chris Price, Asia-Pacific CEO of Agility Global Integrated Logistics. He added, “Tax and economic reforms have added to enthusiasm about India, although that optimism has been tempered somewhat in the short-term by the government’s surprise decision to remove large bank notes from circulation and encourage broader use of cashless forms of payment.”

    76 percent of survey respondents said China’s economy is slowing, but only 17 percent said the slowdown is significantly hindering the transport and logistics sector. Nearly 66 percent said a slowing Chinese economy will not alter their business or expansion plans in China.

    Price said, “Vietnam, India and other countries have lured away some production with cheaper wages and incentives,” He continued, “But the e-commerce revolution in China is driving huge inbound freight volumes and reflects a healthy shift toward growth that’s balanced between exports and domestic demand.”

    The Index, in its eighth year, ranks emerging markets countries by factors that make them attractive to logistics providers, freight forwarders, shipping lines, air cargo carriers and distributors.

    “Emerging markets continue to deliver the highest growth rates in the world, but as links in the global supply chain, countries can be extremely hard to evaluate,” said Essa Al-Saleh, CEO of Agility Global Integrated Logistics. “The Index and the survey are useful when it comes to identifying the relative strengths and weaknesses of individual markets.”

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  • RoRo To Connect Indonesia-Philippines As Part of ASEAN Connectivity

    RoRo To Connect Indonesia-Philippines As Part of ASEAN Connectivity

    New economic and trade opportunities are in sight with the opening of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung (D-G-B) Shipping Service, which is one of the target priorities for the Philippines Chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2017.

    Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B. Isleta and members of the Philippines and Indonesia Inter-Agency Task Force for the Operationalization of the D-G-B Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Route gathered in Jakarta on Jan 17, 2017, to discuss preparations for the maiden voyage of the RoRo, which will connect Davao and General Santos City to Bitung in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, the Philippine embassy said in a statement here on Thursday.

    The D-G-B RoRo Route under the ASEAN RoRo Initiative aims to enhance maritime connectivity in ASEAN and maximize the use of regional sea lanes.

    The opening of the route is a more cost and time-efficient alternative to the usual Manila-Jakarta-Bitung route, which would take about three to five weeks of shipping time.

    In contrast, direct shipping through the D-G-B route will take only one day and a half of sailing (excluding port stay).

    The route is also expected to spur trade between Mindanao and the Sulawesi provinces in Indonesia. It is also expected to provide greater access for local businessmen to engage in international trade, as well as stimulate other areas of development such as joint tourism promotion, establishment of direct linkages, and increase in investment inflows, among others.

    On Jan 18, Isleta and leaders of the RoRo project task force paid a visit to Manado and met with North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey to discuss the maiden voyage of the RoRo.

    Meanwhile, The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that Philippines President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will launch the ASEAN RoRo Project on April 28, 2017.

    New economic and trade opportunities are in sight with the opening of the Davao-General Santos-Bitung (D-G-B) Shipping Service, which is one of the target priorities for the Philippines Chairmanship of the ASEAN in 2017.

    Philippine Ambassador to Indonesia Maria Lumen B. Isleta and members of the Philippines and Indonesia Inter-Agency Task Force for the Operationalization of the D-G-B Roll-on/Roll-off (RoRo) Route gathered in Jakarta on Jan 17, 2017, to discuss preparations for the maiden voyage of the RoRo, which will connect Davao and General Santos City to Bitung in North Sulawesi, Indonesia, the Philippine embassy said in a statement here on Thursday.

    The D-G-B RoRo Route under the ASEAN RoRo Initiative aims to enhance maritime connectivity in ASEAN and maximize the use of regional sea lanes.

    The opening of the route is a more cost and time-efficient alternative to the usual Manila-Jakarta-Bitung route, which would take about three to five weeks of shipping time.

    In contrast, direct shipping through the D-G-B route will take only one day and a half of sailing (excluding port stay).

    The route is also expected to spur trade between Mindanao and the Sulawesi provinces in Indonesia. It is also expected to provide greater access for local businessmen to engage in international trade, as well as stimulate other areas of development such as joint tourism promotion, establishment of direct linkages, and increase in investment inflows, among others.

    On Jan 18, Isleta and leaders of the RoRo project task force paid a visit to Manado and met with North Sulawesi Governor Olly Dondokambey to discuss the maiden voyage of the RoRo.

    Meanwhile, The Philippine News Agency (PNA) reported that Philippines President Rodrigo R. Duterte and Indonesian President Joko Widodo will launch the ASEAN RoRo Project on April 28, 2017.

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  • Vietjet Air Appoints HACTL for Hong Kong Handling

    Vietjet Air Appoints HACTL for Hong Kong Handling

    The daily flight was launched in December 2016 and is operated with an Airbus A320. “We congratulate VietJet on the launch of this exciting new service to Ho Chi Minh, which provides access to an important destination for our customers,” said Mark Whitehead, chief executive of Hactl.

    Major exports from Vietnam to Hong Kong include electronic components, telecommunications equipment and footwear, while imports from Hong Kong include telecommunications equipment, meat products and electronic components.

    “Hong Kong is a very important market for Vietnam, and also a key step in our airline’s development,” said Thi Thuy Binh Nguyen, vice president of VietJet Air. “We look forward to playing our part in facilitating increased trade on this route.”

    VietJet Air launched operations in 2011. The low-cost carrier now flies to 23 international and 37 domestic destinations with its fleet of 42 A320s and A321s.

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  • S.F. Express to build Asia’s largest air freight hub in China

    S.F. Express to build Asia’s largest air freight hub in China

    Chinese private logistics giant S.F. Express Co Ltd has pledged to build the busiest air cargo hub in Asia, reaching areas accounting for 80% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product within two hours, including major cities like Beijing and Shanghai.

    The firm said it would construct an airport in Ezhou city, Hubei province in central China, that could handle more than 2.6 million tonnes of freight and 1.5 million passengers by 2025. The airport would be the fourth busiest in the world and could cater for all jets except the Airbus’ superjumbo A380.

    The joint venture in charge of building the air hub has an investment capital of 100 million yuan (US$14.4 million). The venture will be responsible for the design, construction as well as the operation and management of the mega development project.

    A unit of S.F. Express – S.F. Airport Investment – and China VAST Industrial Urban Development Company have contributed 40 million yuan and 60 million yuan, respectively, to set up the joint venture.

    S.F. Airport Investment had invested 470 billion yuan in VAST late last year. S.F. Express, founded in 1993, is the largest private courier in China, and started building its own fleet in 2009. As of November 30, it owned a fleet of 36 aircraft, according to the company’s website.

    China’s logistics industry has boomed following the development of e-commerce giants, such as Alibaba’s Taobao. In 2016, more than 250 million people used courier services each day, according to the state Xinhua news agency.

    At the annual Singles’ Day e-commerce sale last year on November 11, postal services handled 251 million parcels, a 52% increase compared to 2015, according to another Xinhua news report. S.F. Express even rented high-speed trains to ensure punctual delivery of goods.

    The new airport project is part of an aero city mega development, spanning an area of 36 square kilometers, for a population of only a million.