JUPITER SEA & AIR SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Wednesday - October 30,
2024.
Today’s
Exchange Rates
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CURRENCY |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
DAY's LOW-HIGH |
|
84.07 |
-0.010002 |
-0.011896 |
84.07 |
84.08 |
84.07- 84.085 |
|
|
1.0785 |
-0.0027 |
-0.24972 |
1.0812 |
1.0812 |
1.0769- 1.0826 |
|
|
109.13 |
0.062096 |
0.056933 |
109.0107 |
109.0679 |
108.9502- 109.2073 |
|
|
90.9612 |
0.047897 |
0.052685 |
90.8799 |
90.9133 |
90.845- 91.054 |
|
|
153.644 |
0.354004 |
0.230937 |
153.29 |
153.29 |
152.757- 153.866 |
|
|
1.2973 |
0.0001 |
0.00771 |
1.2972 |
1.2972 |
1.2959- 1.2993 |
|
|
104.282 |
-0.034004 |
-0.032597 |
104.30 |
104.316 |
104.214- 104.351 |
|
|
0.548 |
-0.0006 |
-0.109377 |
0.5485 |
0.5486 |
0.548- 0.5504 |
/// Sea
Cargo News ///
Oil escape route – How Iran is sneaking oil past the Strait
of Hormuz
An oil terminal Iran built to bypass the vital strait of Hormuz appears to have partially filled with crude — offering Tehran a means to get a little of its oil into the world without using the waterway.
The Jask oil terminal — officially opened in July 2021 but
largely inactive as a loading facility ever since — was about half filled late
last month, an image from the Sentinel Hub website shows. By mid-October,
another of its tanks also appeared to have been filled.
The terminal is important because Iran has threatened to close the strait of Hormuz multiple times down the years, something that could jeopardize its own flows as well as those of producers from across the Middle East.
The waterway has become a focal point again recently
because of tensions with Israel. Around the time of the official opening
back in 2021, two small tankers did appear to load, but the feat wasn’t
repeated again until last month, according to satellite imagery reviewed by
Bloomberg.
TankerTrackers.com Inc., which has spent years monitoring Iran’s
oil shipments with the help of satellite imagery, spotted the 2021 test
loadings and identified the two ships as the Aframax tankers Arnica and
Artavil.
No Kharg :
Still, even when up and running in full, Jask – located at the eastern
end of the Strait of Hormuz but outside the Persian Gulf – isn’t about to
supplant Kharg Island as the nation’s main oil outlet. Plans indicated that the
facility would have the capacity to load 1 million barrels a day of crude and
the ability to hold 20 times that much in tanks, ready for shipment.
But it seems well short of that, with just one of three planned
loading buoys actually installed. Kharg Island has handled as much as three
times that in the past.
The most recent loading at Jask, and the only one in the past
three years, took place from Sept 9 to 19. The vessel was identified by
TankerTrackers.com as the Iranian owned supertanker Dune, capable of carrying
about 2 million barrels of crude. The monitoring company confirmed that it had
also seen no other cargoes loaded from Jask since 2021.
The Dune briefly appeared on digital tracking systems between
Oct. 10 and 11, passing Singapore with a draft indicating that it was full.
While Jask may still be largely idle in terms of loadings, the same is not true
for Kharg Island. The terminal, at the northern end of the Persian Gulf, has
been the most important outlet for Iran’s crude exports since the 1960s.
Located near the country’s main oil fields, its host to more
than 50 storage tanks and loading jetties with berths for as many as 10
tankers, theoretically meaning it could move as much as 5.5 million barrels a
day.
It accounts for about 90% of Iran’s crude exports and has
continued shipping out oil even after empty tankers fled its anchorage in the
days after Tehran launched a missile salvo towards Israel.
New China-backed megaport set to transform South American trade
Peru’s massive Chancay port, which authorities hope will become a major shipping hub for South America-Asia trade, will ship two container ships a week beginning late next month, an executive for port operator Cosco Shipping said on Friday.
After the port’s inauguration in mid-November, it will initially cover a direct route to Shanghai and then may ship to other points in the Asian market, depending on demand, said Carlos Tejada, general manager of Hong Kong-based Cosco’s local subsidiary, Cosco Shipping Chancay Peru.
“At the end of November, we will begin the stage known as ‘test conditioning,’ which we expect to run until May. However, during this soft launch phase, we can already handle actual cargo, with two direct vessels per week,” the executive told reporters following a Peruvian-Chinese business forum.
Tejada said that cabotage routes will be opened with smaller ships from Colombia, Eduador and Chile, whose cargo will later be shipped to Asia from Chancay, initially in ships carrying up to 24,000 containers.
Cosco Shipping Ports owns and will operate the port with a 60% stake, with the remaining 40% held by Peruvan miner Volcan, which is controlled by Glencore.
CMA CGM, SUEZ sign MoU to develop biomethane production in Europe
CMA CGM Group, a global player in maritime, land, air and logistics solutions, and SUEZ, a world leader in circular waste management solutions, signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on 18 October. The aim of this collaboration between two complementary players is to establish a long-term industrial partnership on biomethane, a renewable fuel produced through waste recovery, to help decarbonise shipping in Europe.
This MOU sets out three main areas of collaboration:
- The supply by SUEZ of up to 100,000 tonnes of biomethane per year by 2030. This biomethane would be used by the Group for its gas-powered ships, thereby contributing to the decarbonisation of maritime transport.
- The creation of a joint investment structure with an initial funding of 100 million euros for a first stage by 2030 to develop biomethane production facilities. These sites, initially located in Europe, would supply both CMA CGM Group and other players in the sector.
- Joint research and development (R&D) initiatives aimed at designing innovative technologies for the production of biofuels, in particular via a hydrothermal gasification process.
CMA CGM Group, engaged in the energy transition of shipping and logistics, has set itself the goal of achieving Net Zero Carbon by 2050. Pioneering the use of alternative fuels, the Group has invested 18 billion dollars in orders for 131 vessels capable of using low-carbon energies (biomethane, biomethanol and synthetic fuels), which will be operational by 2028. CMA CGM Group is also working alongside energy providers to develop production facilities and supply chains for these fuels.
SUEZ has extensive expertise in the production of local and sustainable energy and secondary raw materials from waste to support the decarbonisation of local authorities and industrial customers. Through its circular solutions, SUEZ enabled its clients to avoid the emission of 6.4 million tonnes of CO2 in 2023. In particular, the Group converts 5 million tonnes of waste into energy every year, and produced 382 GWh of biomethane in 2023.
Rodolphe Saadé, Chairman and CEO of CMA CGM Group, said: “The strategic partnership between CMA CGM and SUEZ, one of France's leading players in the energy transition, marks a major step forward. It will enable us to support the biomethane sector dedicated to the shipping industry, while accelerating the decarbonisation of CMA CGM Group and guaranteeing our carbon neutrality trajectory by 2050. This project also strengthens our energy independence, a key asset for the sovereignty of France and Europe.”
Sabrina Soussan, Chairman and CEO of SUEZ, said: “I am delighted to be working with the CMA CGM Group, a key player in maritime transport. Together, we are going to develop circular solutions that will contribute to the decarbonisation of this strategic sector in Europe. This partnership for biomethane production is a further illustration of SUEZ's ambition to turn waste into new resources for the energy transition of the transport sector."
SeaLead launches new MGX service connecting Jebel Ali with the Mediterranean via Suez
SeaLead, a fast-growing global shipping line, has announced the launch of its new direct liner service, the Mediterranean Gulf Express (MGX). This new service will enhance connectivity between the Middle East and the Mediterranean regions by facilitating direct access through the Red Sea.
The MGX service will operate on a weekly basis, providing dedicated shipping routes that connect Jebel Ali, Djibouti, Aliaga, and Damietta. Designed to boost regional trade efficiency, this new service will offer direct, reliable access to Mediterranean ports, significantly improving transit times for SeaLead customers. The inaugural vessel will depart on 24 October 2024.
“Our new MGX service represents a critical enhancement of our capabilities in connecting Middle East, Red Sea and Mediterranean region, providing our customers with faster transit times and expanded market access. This service further strengthens our presence across key trade lanes while offering improved connections through the Red Sea. We remain committed to delivering innovative solutions that support the growing demands of global trade.”
Suleyman Avci, Global Chief Executive Officer, SeaLead
“By introducing the MGX service, we are directly addressing our customers’ need for seamless and reliable access to both Mediterranean and North African markets. This weekly service offers quick and improved transit options, particularly with the new feeder connections that extend our network from Turkey to several key markets. We are focused on ensuring that this service improves trade efficiency and provides greater opportunities for our customers in these regions.”
Chandra Chigulury, General Manager, Middle East and Africa, SeaLead
The MGX service underscores SeaLead’s commitment to offering excellent service while expanding its global footprint. This new service will play a vital role in facilitating trade growth between the Middle East, Red Sea, and Mediterranean regions, reinforcing SeaLead’s position as a leader in shaping the future of global shipping.
Key highlights of the MGX service include:
- Weekly, dedicated service between the Middle East, Red Sea, and Mediterranean.
- The strategic Aliaga and Damietta hubs, which connect with North African and Mediterranean markets.
- Fast transit times, with shipping durations of 6 days to Djibouti and 14 days to Türkiye.
- A feeder vessel network from Türkiye connecting with Libya, Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria, Senegal, Spain, Greece, Bulgaria, Georgia, Lebanon, and Romania.
Port of Valencia sees traffic surge in September
The traffic data reflected in the Port Authority’s Statistical Bulletin for the month of September show that Spanish exports from Valenciaport continue to grow. The increase in exports is consolidated both in terms of tonnes (t) with 2.08 million tonnes handled in the ninth month of the year (+11.20%), and in the number of containers with 70,973 TEUs (6.1 metre containers) full of cargo (+3.76%), positive percentages which reflect the increases compared to the same month last year.
The commercial export increase in September in the Valencian docks consolidates the export balance of the last twelve months and reflects the first upward figures compared to the previous year (in the last year accumulated growth in containers of +0.02 and +0.60% in t) and reinforces the increase so far this year (from January to September have grown by +1.63% in TEUs and +1.93% in t).
Valenciaport continues to have China, the United States, Italy and Turkey as its main countries of reference for the exchange of goods. So far this year it has exchanged more than 16 million tonnes with them (6.1 with China; 5.1 with Italy; 4.1 with the United States and 3.3 with Turkey) but the role of distribution centre for import/export traffic and transhipments on a global level that the Valencian port is taking on has meant that exchanges with countries such as Saudi Arabia have increased by +49.23%.
If we focus on geographical areas, the Red Sea, the Baltic countries and the Mediterranean countries show the greatest growth in the first nine months of the year. Between January and September, the volume of containers exchanged between the Valencian docks and the main ports of the Red Sea grew by +73.54%; with the Baltic countries, by +58.56% and with the Mediterranean countries, by +36.57%. This month also saw significant increases in trade with Australia +41.32% and South/East Africa +36.5%.
Overall, the total sum of traffic for the month of September, the PAV Bulletin shows a monthly growth in tonnes of +13.10% with a total of 7.1 million tonnes handled and +28.95% in containers, with a total of 490,516 TEUs moved in the Valencian docks. If we look at the year-on-year figures, the growth over the last 12 months is +7.69% t and +14.50% TEUs. In relation to passenger traffic, a total of 193,319 people passed through the Valencian docks in September, a figure which shows an overall increase of +18.96%, with an increase of +63.88% in regular line passengers (105,479 passengers) and a decrease of -10.5% in the number of cruise passengers (87,840), both percentages in relation to the figures for the same month in 2023.
/// Air Cargo News ///
European airlines depart China: What does it mean for air cargo?
European carriers continue to exit or suspend operations in the Chinese market, with the latest being Nordic carrier SAS and Polish airline LOT. SAS is discontinuing its Copenhagen to Shanghai service, with the final flight on this route scheduled for November 7, according to its website.
Meanwhile, LOT is suspending its Warsaw to Beijing flights from the winter season, with the last outbound flight from Warsaw set for October 24, and the return flight from Beijing on October 25. SAS currently operates Airbus A350-900 aircraft on its Copenhagen-Shanghai route, while LOT uses Boeing 787-8 for its Warsaw Beijing service.
Finnair, another Nordic carrier, has reduced its seat capacity to China by 90% compared to 2019, according to data from Cirium aviation analytics, the airline now flies only to Shanghai using its Airbus A350-900 aircraft. It previously operated flights to Beijing, Guangzhou, Xian, Chongqing, and Nanjing.
With this flight suspension announcement, SAS and LOT have joined other European airlines like Virgin Atlantic and British Airways in withdrawing from the Chinese market. Earlier Virgin Atlantic announced that it would
suspend its flights to Shanghai starting in October with the final departure from London on October 25 and the return flight on October 26, 2024.
Emirates to expand freighter fleet with order for more 777Fs
Emirates SkyCargo has announced an order for more Boeing 777 freighters that will be used to expand its all-cargo fleet. The Dubai-headquartered airline has placed a firm order for five 777Fs, on top of its existing order for nine of the model.
The aircraft will be used to expand its freighter fleet to 21 777Fs from its current 11 units when they are all delivered by the end of 2026. Emirates had also previously announced plans to convert 10 777-300ER passenger aircraft into freighters and said it remains “invested” in the plan, although no update was given to the timeline for re-configuration.
The airline also operates three Boeing 747-400BDSF aircraft. The decision to order more aircraft comes on the back of expectations for rising cargo demand and as Dubai plans to expand Al Maktoum International airport (DWC).
Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman and chief executive, Emirates Airline and Group, said: “Demand for Emirates’ air cargo services has been booming. This reflects Dubai’s growing prominence as a preferred and trusted global logistics hub, and also the success of Emirates
SkyCargo’s bespoke solutions that address the needs of shippers in different industry sectors.”
The Dubai government plans to expand DWC to an annual capacity of 12m tonnes supporting the expansion of the Logistics District.
The 777 Freighter can fly 9,200 km and carry 102 tonnes of freight.
Looking further into the future, the carrier said it is still in the process of deciding between the Boeing 777-8F and the A350-1000F for its freighter fleet beyond 2028/2029.
It said a decision would be made by the end of the year.
Last week, Air Cargo News reported that the cargo division of Emirates is in talks with both aircraft manufacturers on potential orders of the next-generation widebody freighter aircraft.
The airline has mostly operated Boeing freighters in the past, but it is not a given that Emirates will opt for the 777-8F.
In an interview with ACN at the end of last year, Ravishankar Mirle, vice president cargo commercial – Far East & Australasia, said the A350F could be “a good fit” for Emirates.
The carrier is also investing in the A350 for the passenger side of its business and has 65 of the model on order, with the first due to be delivered this year.
Emirates is in the process of securing approval for three Airbus A350 simulators ahead of delivery of the twinjet type.
The Dubai-based airline is investing some $48m in training systems for pilots and cabin crew.
Nearly 30 pilots have been trained on A350s and, by the end of November, Emirates aims to have over 50 ready for A350 service entry.
Meanwhile, Boeing has also recently pushed the launch of the 777-8F back to 2028.
The 777-8F was originally anticipated to come to market in 2027 and the decision to push back the first delivery will put the airframer further behind Airbus, which itself shifted the entry into service date for the A350 freighter from the end of 2025 into 2026.
Air White Whale unveils biggest unmanned cargo aircraft
Chinese aerospace firm Air White Whale has completed manufacturing an unmanned cargo aircraft with a maximum payload capacity of five tons that it said is the largest of its kind.
The “W5000” aircraft was rolled off the production line at a Changzhou-located production base on October 18, said Air White Whale in a press release.
The company said its airworthiness application has been accepted by the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the first aircraft is expected to be delivered in the second half of 2026.
As well as a maximum payload capacity of five tons the aircraft has a “maximum take-off weight of 10.8 tons, an effective cargo hold volume of more than 65 cubic meters, and a commercial range of 2,600 km”.
According to Air White Whale, the W5000 uses a traditional turboprop engine, has a wingspan of 22.70 m, a vertical tail of 7.51 m, and a length of 22.89 m. Alongside autonomous operation, ground crew can monitor six to seven W5000 aircraft at a time.
Air White Whale has not named a launch customer, but a ceremony to mark production of the first aircraft was attended by executives from
cargo and logistics firms including JD.com and China Eastern Airlines Logistics, as well as China Post.
Founded in 2021, Air White Whale’s management board comprises former executives from Comac, Airbus China and GE Aviation. Other global drone/unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) companies include US-based Natilus and Bulgaria-headquartered Dronamics.
Natilus is developing a 3.8 ton payload UAV named ‘Kona’. The Californian company is also developing Alisio – a 60-ton payload medium/long range UAV, and Nordes – a 100-ton payload long-range UAV.
Dronamics is developing the ‘Black Swan’ cargo drone, which has a payload of 350 kg and a capacity of 3.5 cu m. First A321F for Azul as EFW gains Brazilian STC
Elbe Flugzeugwerke (EFW) has received the validation of its Supplement Type Certification (V-STC) for its Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter
(P2F) conversion programme from Brazil’s National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC).
This validation was achieved alongside EFW’s redelivery of an A321P2F aircraft to AerCap for lease to Azul Cargo. This aircraft is the first ever A321P2F to be operated in South America.
Aviation leasing company AerCap placed firm orders for 15 Airbus A321 Passenger-to-Freighter (P2F) conversions with EFW in October 2022, and has options for a further 15 aircraft.
Azul Cargo plans to add one more A321P2Fs to its fleet by end of this year.
With the V-STC from ANAC, EFW’s conversion programmes are now validated by major aviation authorities from all continents, enabling it to offer aircraft conversions, registrations and operations across the Americas, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia and Australia.
“With the validated STC for our A321P2F program obtained from the Brazilian aviation authority, we look forward to introducing this freighter conversion solution to the wider South American market,” said Jordi Boto, chief executive of German freighter conversion firm EFW, a joint venture of ST Engineering and Airbus.
“The validated STC, together with our first-ever A321P2F to be operated in South America by Azul Cargo, mark a major milestone that augments the global presence of our Airbus converted freighters,” added Izabel Reis, director of Azul Cargo Express.
“The arrival of a new aircraft is always a reason for pride and celebration; it means that we are getting closer to offering the best opportunities and much more capacity to serve our current and new customers.
“These are modern aircraft, with more space, reliability, and the autonomy for international flights. With the two freighters, we will promote a logistical transformation in the country and we are ready to deliver even more agility to Brazilians.”
My Freighter launches Zhengzhou-Liège route
My Freighter has launched a new cargo route between Zhengzhou Airport (CGO) in China and Liège Airport (LGG) in Belgium. The Uzbekistan-based cargo airline announced that four flights per week would be carried out on the route using Boeing 767-300 freighters.
“We are thrilled to announce the launch of a new key cargo route between Zhengzhou Airport (CGO) and Liège Airport (LGG),” said My Freighter in a LinkedIn post on October 21.
“This new service strengthens our China-Europe via Uzbekistan connection, with four weekly flights carrying vital cargo on our Boeing 767-300 freighter aircraft.”
The Zhengzhou-Liège route builds on My Freighter’s previous efforts to build up supply chains between Asia – China in particular, Europe and the US.
In July, My Freighter began operating flights to Shanghai and Ezhou after receiving authorisation to carry out flights on routes to and from Mainland China in April.
During the summer, My Freighter and American Airlines began an interline partnership to allow both carriers access to each other’s cargo network via North America, the EU and Central Asia.
The interline partnership between My Freighter and American Airlines followed on from another interline partnership between My Freighter and Air Europa, announced in June, that authorised My Freighter to add flights to the Americas and Air Europa to expand into Asia.
In July, My Freighter signed an agreement to grow its Air Transport Services Group (ATSG) leased fleet of 767-300 passenger to freighter (P2F) aircraft to five. This fifth aircraft arrived at My Freighter’s Tashkent hub that same month.
My Freighter provides cargo air charter services in Uzbekistan and the Central Asian region. The airline’s specialist air cargo verticals include dangerous goods, perishables and brokerage and certification.
In addition to cargo flights, the airline offers passenger flights. Cargo flights are operated under ‘My Freighter Cargo Airlines’, whilst passenger flights are operated under ‘Centrum Air’.
Asia Airfreight Terminal becomes handler for two airline
Hong Kong Airport-based Asia Airfreight Terminal (AAT) has become the primary cargo handler for Thai Lion Air’s daily flights from Bangkok to Hong Kong and Indonesia AirAsia’s daily flights from Bali to Hong Kong.
SATS subsidiary AAT said Indonesia AirAsia, based at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Jakarta, marked the successful launch of its inaugural flight from Bali to Hong Kong on October 1.
And on the same day, Thai Lion Air, operating from Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok, also commenced its inaugural service on the Bangkok to Hong Kong route.
AAT’s chief executive Mike Chew said: “We warmly welcome Indonesia AirAsia and Thai Lion Air to join the AAT family. The addition of these new routes not only strengthens our regional connectivity but also enhances the trade and tourism ties between Hong Kong and the bustling cities of Bali and Bangkok.
“With our unwavering focus on operational and service excellence, we are committed to contributing to the business growth of the airlines in Hong Kong.”
Last month, AAT was selected as the preferred cargo handler for Fly Khiva Group in Hong Kong.
AAT is equipped with special cargo handling facilities, including AAT COOLPORT (Cold Chain Handling Centre for Perishables & Pharmaceuticals) and rooms for verticals including dangerous, live animals and radioactive shipments.
In April, the air cargo terminal introduced Autonomous Electric Tractors (AET) to its operations.
Etihad Cargo looks to benefit from passenger network expansion
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