JUPITER SEA & AIR SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.

E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in   Mobile : +91 98407 85202

Corporate News Letter for Thursday  April 13, 2023.

                                                                                                                  

::               Today’s Exchange Rates           ::   

Source : The Economic Times.



CURRENCY

PRICE

CHANGE

%CHANGE

OPEN

PREV.CLOSE

DAY's LOW-HIGH

USD/INR

82.08

-0.059998

-0.073043

82.06

82.14

82.0075- 82.115

EUR/USD

1.0993

0.0081

0.742305

1.0912

1.0912

1.0909- 1.10

GBP/INR

101.9091

-0.245193

-0.240023

102.0247

102.1543

101.8336- 102.1288

EUR/INR

89.701

0.083298

0.092948

89.6396

89.6177

89.5849- 89.7531

USD/JPY

133.117

-0.562988

-0.421146

133.68

133.68

132.739- 134.047

GBP/USD

1.2479

0.0055

0.442688

1.2424

1.2424

1.2399- 1.2484

DXY Index

102.025

-0.179001

-0.175141

102.117

102.204

101.989- 102.158

JPY/INR

0.6141

-0.0023

-0.373138

0.6143

0.6164

0.6126- 0.6148


:                   Sea Cargo News                ::  


37 cruise ships brought 85,000 passengers to Chennai port



The Chennai port received 37 cruise ships which brought 85,000 passengers and also registered an increase in export of cars last year. In addition to this, Chennai Port and Kamaraj port together are planning to handle 100 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2023-24.

Chennai port handled 48.95million metric tonnes of cargo and Kamarajar Port handled 45.51 million metric tonnes of cargo in 2022-23, said Chennai Port Authority chairman Sunil Paliwal.

JNPA shifts location of new port at Vadhavan to offshore site



State-owned Jawaharlal Nehru Port Authority (JNPA) plans to build a mega port at Vadhavan near Dahanu in Maharashtra’s Palghar district at an offshore location instead of the earlier onshore site, in a change that require large scale reclamation for which material will be sourced from sand borrow pits off the coast of Daman some 50 kms away.

The scope of the terms of reference (ToR) for the environment impact assessment (EIA) study for the new port granted by the government’s Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) in October 2020 included reclamation and land filling of 1,473 hectares of land using earth filling, which required 86.88 million cubic metres.

However, with the port layout being shifted to an offshore site, the actual requirement of reclamation is estimated at some 200 million cubic metres. Sources said that JNPA decided to shift the location of Vadhavan Port offshore due to issues associated with sourcing of material for reclamation.

“Considering the much higher requirement of reclamation material for the new port, it was decided to extract the fill material from marine borrow pits located off the coast of Daman instead of earth filling due to the ecological sensitivity of the region,” a person briefed on the plan said.


Trial run to Myanmar's Sittwe port in April



Kolkata port, now known as Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, on Tuesday announced that it has handled 65.66 million tonnes of cargo in the 2022-23 financial year, up by 12.87 per cent. It clocked a net surplus (profit) of Rs 304 crore in FY'23, increasing by over 152 per cent from Rs 120 crore in the previous fiscal.

The port also said a long-awaited trial run to Sittwe Port in Myanmar will be conducted in April with a cargo of 3,000 tonnes of cement. The initiative is part of Kaladan Multimodal Transit Transport project.

The objective of the project is to provide alternative connectivity to the North East region from Kolkata port through Sittwe Port up to Paletwa in Myanmar by waterway and Paletwa to Zorinpui by road in Mizoram. SMP Chairman P L Haranadh attributed the net surplus growth to higher cargo handling, cost-cut measures and reduction in the requirement for contribution to the pension shortfall fund.

He also said that provisioning for the pension liability shortfall has been met according to the mandate. "SMP has exceeded the ministry's target of 61 million tonnes. Our ranking improved by one notch to fifth among all the major ports of the country," he said.

Indian imports slowed by tech glitch in new customs clearance platform


Indian importers and supply chain players are facing difficulties securing customs clearance, due to major glitches on the national electronic data interchange platform, known as Icegate.

As a result, import containers are piling up at port locations across the country, according to industry sources. Stakeholders are concerned over the inability to make customs duty payments through the electronic gateway, an issue noted first cropped up when the authorities rolled-out the new system on 1 April.

Many industry groups, including the Brihanmumbai Customs Brokers Association (BCBA) of clearing agents in Mumbai, have raised alarm bells, calling on government policymakers for intervention and a swift resolution. The Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) said it was making every effort to put things in order.

It explained: “Our technical teams are working overtime to fix some teething issues and the problems being temporarily noticed will be resolved at the earliest.” One Mumbai-based ocean freight forwarder told that, clearing agents were not coming forward to pick up delivery orders for vessels that arrived even last week. Containers overstaying on docks typically run the risk of demurrage charges and other penalties, with disputes often ending up in protracted legal action.


 

Ocean carriers increase schedule reliability, Maersk ahead of competitors



The ocean carriers' global schedule reliability increased sharply by 7.7% month-to-month in February 2023, reaching 60.2%, according to Sea Intelligence.

On a year-to-year level, schedule reliability has marked a staggering 26% rise. At the same time, the average delay for late vessel arrivals decreased by 0.07 days month-to-month in February reaching 5.29 days, while it is down 2.30 days year-to-year. In relative terms, the average delay for late vessel arrivals is now closer to the 2019 level than to the highs of 2021-2022.


Meanwhile, Maersk was the most reliable top-14 carrier in February with a score of 64.9%, followed by MSC with 64.4%. Hamburg Süd was the third carrier with a reliability score of over 60%.  In addition, the remaining carriers all had a schedule reliability score between 50% and 60%.

ZIM was in the last position in February 2023 with a schedule reliability score of 52% despite its significant improvement.

"All top-14 carriers recorded a month-to-month increase in schedule reliability in February 2023, with PIL, ZIM, and Wan Hai all recording double-digit improvements," noted Alan Murphy, CEO of Sea-Intelligence.

On a year-to-year level, all carriers recorded double-digit improvements in schedule reliability in February 2023, with Wan Hai recording the largest growth of 36.2%.


Hat-trick for Transworld Group with back-to-back ship acquisitions



Shreyas Shipping and Logistics Ltd, the Indian-flagged vessel owning company of the 46-year-old Transworld Group of Companies, a shipping and logistics conglomerate, has made headlines by purchasing three container vessels within just one week.

The Company's swift acquisition of the vessels underscores its commitment to expanding its global reach and providing top-notch services to its clients. The three vessels which have been renamed the SSL Godavari, SSL Kaveri and SSL Thamirabarani.

The SSL Godavari has a capacity of 2,872 TEUs (Twenty-foot Equivalent units), while the SSL Kaveri and SSL Thamirabarani, have a capacity of 2,553 TEUs and 962 TEUs respectively.

This makes it the national leader in the Indian containerized shipping industry with 12 feeder vessels with a total capacity of 26,085 TEUs. Additionally, Shreyas Shipping also owns 2 handy size dry bulk carriers with an aggregate of 69,000 DWT.

The addition of these vessels to Shreyas Shipping’s fleet will enhance the company's capacity to meet the growing demand for shipping and logistics services in the coastal Indian trade. The company already has a strong presence in this region, with operations on east and west coasts of India, and neighbouring countries, among other locations.

Syamaprasad Mookerjee Port to start night navigation for small vessels from August



The Syamaprasad Mookerjee Port (SMP), Kolkata, will begin night navigation operations for small vessels from August, this year, while Ship-to-Ship (lighterage) operations have helped the port overcome the challenges surrounding low draft, contributing towards increase in trans-shipment cargo.

Addressing a press conference, the Chairman of the port, PL Haranadh said that since Kolkata Port is dependent on tides it is not accessible to vessels throughout the day unlike other major ports that are open to vessels 24x7.

“However, we are starting night navigation facilities by August 2023 for small vessels which can then enter the port for cargo operations during the night. The facility will be soon extended to all vessels by March 2024,” he said. The night navigation facility will include satellite based-virtual buoys that will guide vessels at night between Sagar Island and Kidderpore Dock.

A team from the Kolkata Port visited the Antwerp Port in Belgium where such a facility is in use since that port is also a riverine port. The Kolkata Port had also roped in IIT Chennai as a consultant in the project. Following the implementation, the facility is expected to increase the capacity of vessel calling.


Maersk expands UK network with new logistics facility


A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) has signed a lease for a 685,000 square feet (63,000 square metre) facility at SEGRO Logistics Park East Midlands Gateway.

Maersk will further expand its network of warehouses across the UK with the new lease, in addition to its warehouses in Doncaster, Tamworth, and in Kettering. The newly built facility will be completed in June 2023 and is part of a 700-acre development by the UK based real estate company SEGRO.

The logistics park reportedly features the UK’s only inland freeport as well as a 50-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange (SRFI), providing it with direct rail links to the seaports of Felixstowe, London Gateway, and Southampton, according to Maersk.

This is anticipated to speed-up cargo flows while reducing on-road freight mileage and emissions from hinterland transport. The warehouse itself is constructed to meet low or very low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions standards for both embodied and operational emissions, Maersk reported.

It will incorporate a full roof mounted photovoltaic (PV) array and extensive use of recycled construction materials.

::                   Air Cargo News                ::

CMA CGM and Air France-KLM officially launch 10-year air cargo partnership

 


The long-term strategic air cargo cooperation of Air France-KLM and the CMA CGM Group, which was announced in May 2022, has officially commenced.

CMA CGM and Air France-KLM officially launch 10-year air cargo partnership.

Air France-KLM Martinair Cargo, part of the Air France-KLM Group, and CMA CGM Air Cargo, part of the CMA CGM Group, will combine their cargo networks, full freighter capacity, and dedicated services aiming to build a more compelling offering.

The collaboration between the two French giants will have an initial duration of 10 years, as the deal has obtained all necessary legal approvals from the relevant authorities.

With this agreement, Air France-KLM and CMA CGM will jointly operate the full-freighter aircraft capacity of their respective airlines with the combined capacity currently consisting of six full-freighter aircraft at CMA CGM Air Cargo and six full-freighter aircraft at Air France-KLM Group. 

The commercial partnership also covers Air France-KLM’s belly aircraft capacity, including 160+ long-haul aircraft.

"Our partnership will combine the best of both worlds: flexibility, agility and world-class expertise for regular and dedicated service,” stated Guillaume Lathelize, CEO of CMA CGM Air Cargo.

Maersk announces two new air freight services between US and China


Maersk has announced it will offer two new air freight services with frequent flights connecting the United States and China.

The Danish carrier will begin operations with two weekly flights between Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport (GSP) and Shenyang Taoxian International Airport (SHE), as well as two weekly flights between Chicago Rockford International Airport (RFD) and Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport (HGH).

Both services will be expanded to three weekly flights from May 2023. The trial will be carried out using three recently acquired Boeing 767-300 freighters that have recently been added to the inventory of Maersk Air Cargo, Maersk's cargo airline, and will be operated by Amerijet International, an American cargo airline based in Miami.

Maersk announced the inaugural flight of its new air freight service with three weekly scheduled flights between Billund (BLL) and Hangzhou (HGH) operated by Maersk Air Cargo on 20 March.

Additionally, the Copenhagen-based company recently launched another air freight service with regular flights between Greenville-Spartanburg, South Carolina (GSP) and Incheon, Korea (ICN) operated by Miami-headquartered cargo airline Amerijet International.

Cainiao set for an IPO?

Source: Cainiao

Just days after e-commerce giant Alibaba announced plans to split its business up, reports are circulating that its logistics unit could be set for an initial public offering (IPO). Bloomberg yesterday reported that Alibaba’s logistics arm, Cainiao, is holding talks with banks over a potential IPO in Hong Kong.

Quoting people familiar with the matter, the newswire said that banks including China International Capital Corp and Citigroup were helping the company prepare for a share sale. A listing could come before the end of the year with the company valued at around $20bn, the contacts said.

Earlier this week, Air Cargo News reported that the e-commerce giant is splitting its business into six units each to be managed by its own chief executive and board of directors.

This would allow the units to raise funds through share offerings, the company said. “The market is the best litmus test, and each business group and company can pursue independent fundraising and IPOs when they are ready,” said Daniel Zhang, who will continue to serve as chairman and chief executive of the Alibaba Group, in an email to employees. The group will follow a holding company model, according to Alibaba’s news website, Alizila.

The six new groups will be made up of the Cloud Intelligence Group, Taobao Tmall Business Group, Local Services Group, Global Digital Business Group, Cainiao Smart Logistics and Digital Media and Entertainment Group.


China’s first cargo-focused airport launches international flights


Photo: Shutterstock

China’s first cargo-focused airport has launched its inaugural international route with a Belgium-bound flight.

The all-cargo aircraft, loaded with some 100 tonnes of freight, departed Ezhou Huahu Airport in Hubei Province on April 1, according to China’s state press agency Xinhua.

This route is scheduled to provide two round-trip cargo flights each week between China and Europe, adding 400 tonnes of air express capacity, according to the aircraft’s operator SF Airlines, which now has 80 freighters.

Logistics service provider SF Express holds a 46% stake in Hubei International Logistics Airport Co., Ltd., the operator of Ezhou Huahu Airport.  Ezhou Huahu Airport began operations in July 2022.

In November, the airport launched its first all-cargo domestic air route, linking Ezhou with Shenzhen in south China’s Guangdong Province.  The airport, which features a 23,000 sq m cargo terminal, a nearly 700,000 sq m freight transit centre and two runways, is expected to open 40 domestic freight routes and about four international freight routes by the end of this year.

In February, it was announced that ST Engineering’s Commercial Aerospace business and SF Airlines would set up a commercial airframe maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) joint venture in Hubei province.


China Southern Airlines to spin off logistics business


Air Cargo News’ sister publication, FlightGlobal said the airline’s board approved the listing of China Southern Air Logistics on March 28, stating that the move has “commercial reasonableness, necessity and feasibility”.

The Chinese Government’s zero-Covid policy severely impacted flights in and out of the country during the pandemic, and China Southern Airlines suffered record losses in 2022.

The airline reported an operating loss of CNY22.5bn in the year to 31 December 2022, a significant uptick against 2021’s CNY9.9bn loss, said FlightGlobal.

The airline’s board noted that steps were taken to cut flights and reduce costs, but the company’s operations suffered a “relatively significant impact and incurred losses”.

Established in 2018, China Southern Air Logistics provides air cargo logistics services and flights.  China Southern Airlines operates more than 850 passenger and cargo transport aircraft.

Starting from wet-leased freighters, China Southern Cargo now operates a self-owned fleet of two Boeing B747-400Fs and twelve B777-200Fs. It has established Shanghai and Guangzhou as its “dual-cargo-hubs” and developed a freighter network that covers 10 domestic and international stations.

Plans to list China Southern Air Logistics were first announced at the end of November last year, though the airline said then it had not submitted any official applications.

 

I reckon you have enjoyed reading the above useful information.

 

Have a nice day.

Thanks & kind regards

ROBERT SANDS, Joint Managing Director

Jupiter Sea & Air Services Pvt Ltd

Casa Blanca, 3rd Floor

11, Casa Major Road, Egmore

Chennai – 600 008. India.

GST Number : 33AAACJ2686E1ZS.

Tel : + 91 44 2819 0171 / 3734 / 4041

Fax : + 91 44 2819 0735

Mobile : + 91 98407 85202

E-mail : robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in

Website : www.jupiterseaair.com

Branches  : Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.

Associate Offices : New Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin & Hyderabad.

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