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 September 04,
2025
Today’s
Exchange Rates
|
CURRENCY▲ |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
DAY's LOW-HIGH |
|
88.07 |
0.099998 |
0.113416 |
88.15 |
88.17 |
87.98- 88.1975 |
|
|
1.1669 |
0.0029 |
0.249141 |
1.164 |
1.164 |
1.1608- 1.168 |
|
|
118.0775 |
0.056297 |
0.047656 |
117.8223 |
118.1338 |
117.5885- 118.1729 |
|
|
102.6734 |
0.072701 |
0.070858 |
102.5123 |
102.6007 |
102.3293- 102.7439 |
|
|
148.2 |
0.160004 |
0.107848 |
148.36 |
148.36 |
148.076- 149.137 |
|
|
1.3434 |
0.004 |
0.298637 |
1.3394 |
1.3394 |
1.3334- 1.3447 |
|
|
98.243 |
0.154007 |
0.156516 |
98.397 |
98.397 |
98.191- 98.635 |
|
|
0.5933 |
-0.0013 |
0.218641 |
0.5943 |
0.5946 |
0.5913- 0.5944 |
/// Sea Cargo News ///
Sivakasi can now export via Chennai Port after 15 yrs
This development follows approval granted by the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation (PESO) for two coastal berths (CB1 and CB2) at Chennai Port to handle IMDG Class 1 dangerous goods (explosives) in containers, as announced in a circular issued on July 30, 2025.
The fireworks industry in Sivakasi is
valued at around Rs 6,000 crore, meeting over 90% of the country’s firecracker
demand. Sivakasi and its neighbouring areas have about 1,108 factories
producing firecrackers of all kinds, including the fancy crackers that light up
the sky.
Resuming exports will not only enhance
the competitiveness of this cluster but also showcase its innovation in
producing green crackers -- an eco-friendly alternative designed to reduce
particulate matter (PM) emissions and address growing environmental concerns.
Industry representatives told DH that the
Centre should permit the use of Barium Nitrate for fireworks intended solely
for export, noting that many international markets still
prefer conventional fireworks, though they may transition to green crackers
in the long run.
Azerbaijan warns of declining Caspian Sea levels threatening ports
According to Reuters, Azerbaijan’s Deputy
Ecology Minister Rauf Hajiyev raised alarm over the issue of the shallowing of
the Caspian Sea and stated that while the sea has been gradually getting
shallower for decades, recent data indicates the trend is only
accelerating.
Over the past five years, the sea level
has dropped by 0.93 meters (3 feet), by 1.5 meters over the last decade and by
2.5 meters in the past 30 years. Hajiyev estimates the current rate of decline
at 20 to 30 centimeters per year. As a result, the falling sea level is
already affecting coastal communities and port operations.
Hajiyev noted that ships are encountering
increasing difficulties when entering and maneuvering in the Port of Baku,
Azerbaijan’s capital, leading to reduced cargo capacity and rising logistics
costs. “The retreat of the coastline changes natural conditions,
disrupts economic activity and creates new challenges for sustainable
development” said Rauf Hajiyev.
Panama Canal to sell two new ports and boost competition
The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) wants to
raise competition with two new ports, due to tensions over the two existing
ports and who controls them, and a rise in demand on the waterway. Since
January, US President Donald Trump has made it a promise to “retake” the
waterway from China’s alleged control.
It is not accurate that China operates
the canal, although Chinese companies are involved in port operations, fuelling
the clash over the port operations and the prompts from Trump-supporting
senators which urged Panama’s government to cut alleged ties with China.
The Panama Ports Company is owned by Hong
Kong firm CK Hutchinson Holdings and manages two large container terminals on
the canal. In March, after the claims made by the Trump administration,
Hong Kong firm CK Hutchinson Holdings came to an agreement to sell its two
ports to American asset management firm BlackRock. However, this deal has
since stalled due to further geopolitical tensions with China.
Ricaurte Vasquez Morales, CEO of the ACP,
previously warned that the BlackRock deal would risk the canal’s neutrality.
Now, after a recent meeting with the United Nations Security Council, he has
told the Wall Street Journal: “We need to boost container capacity and bring in
more players for an equal playing field”.
He said the facilities and terminals are
experiencing significant demand and that a broader expansion strategy is
necessary to enhance services at the canal. The Panama Canal saw a total of
1,012 transits in July 2025, an increase of 8% from June, according to a recent
Lloyd’s List Report.
Höegh Autoliners places first order for ammonia-powered engines on car carriers
Höegh Autoliners has placed a landmark
order for ammonia-burning Everllence B&W ME-LGIA engines – the first of
this new fuel type to propel any car carrier in the world.
Four 7S60ME-LGIA dual-fuel engines will
be delivered from the company formerly known as MAN Energy Solutions to an
Asian shipyard in connection with the construction of four 9,100 ceu ships – a
new size record in the car carrier segment.
Sebjørn Dahl, chief operations officer,
Höegh Autoliners, said: “The engines are the beating heart of our vessels, and
we take it as a clear mark of confidence that Everllence has chosen us to
install some of the world’s first two-stroke ammonia engines on our final four
Aurora Class vessels.”
Bjarne Foldager, head of two-stroke
business at Everllence, said: “This order – one of several ammonia
pilot-projects we have in China, Japan and South Korea – encourages us that we
are on the right path, as does the widespread industry interest in our progress.
We have adopted a responsible, safety
first approach to developing this engine on account of ammonia’s particular
risk-profile, and are confident that ammonia will ultimately become of three
major, alternative fuels in the market along with methanol and methane”.
Christian Ludwig, Head of two stroke
sales and promotion at Everllence said: “We have now been running our 2 stroke
ammonia test engine since 2023 and can confirm that the ME-LGIA’s combustion is
right where we want it. Using the diesel principle, the ME-LGIA engine concept
has many of the same merits as our existing dual fuel engines that already
entered operation over a decade ago”.
Inspired by these engines, Everllence is
using the same sealing oil design for the fuel booster injection valves.
CMA CGM places major containership order in China
France’s CMA CGM is lining up another
round of ultra-large containerships as part of its fleet expansion push, with
industry sources pointing to a fresh deal in China.
Shipbrokers said the Marseille-headquartered carrier has signed a letter of intent with Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co (DSIC), part of China State Shipbuilding Corp, covering six firm plus four optional LNG dual-fuel 22,000 teu vessels.
No official pricing has been divulged,
but recent orders for similar dual-fuel units of around $220m apiece suggest
CMA CGM’s deal will total in the region of $2.1bn.
CMA CGM already operates more than 680
ships with around 4m teu capacity, which will be boosted by an additional 1.5m
teu in the coming years, consisting of over 100 low-carbon newbuilds. If
confirmed, the DSIC deal would mark CMA CGM’s third major newbuilding
commitment this year.
Earlier this year, the Rodolphe Saad-led
line ordered a dozen 18,000TEU LNG dual-fuel ships at CSSC Jiangnan Shipyard
for around USD2.5 Billion alongside another USD 2.6 Billion order for 12
similar sized ships at HD Hyundai Heavy Industries Ltd, South Korea.
Nearly
25% of India’s textile exports set to be impacted by US tariffs in the next six
month
US tariffs are likely to severely impact one-fourth of India's textile exports in the next six months, according to experts, even as traders grapple with order cancellations in their biggest export market.
"We are looking at a hit of at least 20-25% for the next six months, if I am considering some amount of re-orientation to be done because, otherwise, the figure is 28% of exports—largely apparel and made-ups," said Chandrima Chatterjee, secretary general of the Confederation of Indian Textile Industry.
In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra
Modi, Apparel Export Promotion Council's Chairman Sudhir Sekhri said that the
US tariffs will severely impact the competitiveness of Indian products in the
American market, hurting both exporters and consumers.
“Our industry is already experiencing the
effects of the tariff hike, with potential losses and order cancellations. We
are exploring alternate markets and strategies to mitigate the impact…,"
Sekhri said in the letter.
“We are also in active discussion with
the Ministry of Textiles and Ministry of Commerce & Industry. In our
meetings with the ministers of both the ministries, we have been assured of
their best possible support”.
US President Donald Trump’s additional
25% tariff on Indian exports to the US took effect on Wednesday, raising duty
on some shipments to as much as 50% - the highest globally and on a par with
Brazil.
India’s exports of textiles, gems and
jewellery, footwear, sporting goods, furniture and chemicals are likely to take
the biggest hit, threatening thousands of small exporters and jobs.
Some respite : On Thursday, India extended duty free import
of cotton by 3 months till December 31 to support textile exporters. On August
18, the finance ministry had allowed duty exemption on cotton imports until December
31, 2025.
“We are very relieved because the earlier
exemption was not benefitting new orders that can be placed for cotton as it
takes a minimum 45-50 days to be shipped,” CITI’s Chatterjee said, “So, now
this relatively longer window will benefit the new orders”. Prior to these
exemptions the difference between the domestic cotton price and the
international bench mark was 10-15%, that will be addressed”.
Tyre industry seeks policy backing to drive exports amid US tariffs
Automotive Tyre Manufacturers’
Association (ATMA) has voiced concern over the high US tariffs on tyre imports,
saying that the move would put Indian exporters at a significant
disadvantage vis-a-vis competing economies.
Competing economies such as China,
Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Indonesia continue to attract far lower
tariffs, putting India at a distinct strategic disadvantage in its largest
export market. Indian tyres are currently exported to more than 170
countries, of which the US accounts for the single largest share of 17 per
cent.
In FY 24-25, India’s tyre exports crossed
₹25,000 crore for the first time ever, of which the US accounted for over
₹4,300 crore. “The Indian tyre industry has invested over ₹28,000 crore
in recent years to expand both greenfield and brownfield capacities to meet
rising domestic and global demand.
Hike in US tariffs will severely
constrain the ability of Indian manufacturers to sustain export momentum
established in the last few years, particularly since the US is our largest
export destination,” said Arun Mammen, Chairman, ATMA.
Bridges Air Cargo receives first E190
freighter
Bridges
Air Cargo has taken delivery of its first Embraer E190 converted freighter
after it was announced as the first operator of the converted aircraft in June.
The
Maltese cargo carrier said it had begun “onboarding” the aircraft, owned by US
lessor Regional One, in a LinkedIn post on 22 August.
“We are
thrilled to announce that we are onboarding our first Embraer ERJ-190 converted
freighter – a first of its kind in the aviation world!
“This
marks an exciting milestone in our journey as a growing cargo airline. The
ERJ-190F will strengthen our ability to serve our customers with greater
efficiency, flexibility, and reliability.”
The airline added that it expected to receive its second E190F soon.
Bridges
Air Cargo offers logistics solutions for the express and courier industry. Its
customers include FedEx, DHL and UPS. Earlier
this year, Embraer confirmed its E190 converted freighter has been fully
certified by the European Union Aviation Safety
Agency (EASA) after the agency published the type certificate document late
last year.
The US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Civil Aviation Agency of Brazil have also certified the freighter.
Embraer
launched its E-Jet freighter programme to convert
E190 and E195 passenger aircraft to freighters in
March 2022.
The
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer said the E-Jet will offer 40% more volume
capacity and three times the range of large cargo turboprops, and up to 30%
lower operating costs than larger narrowbodies.
Combining
cargo capacity under the floor and on the main deck, the E190F’s maximum
structural payload is 13,500 kg. The larger E195F will have a payload of 14,300
kg.
Korean Air to buy eight 777-8Fs
Boeing
777-8-freighter
Korean Air
has committed to purchasing eight 777-8 freighters from Boeing after the
aircraft manufacturer recently started production on the new generation cargo
aircraft model.
Boeing
recently started production on the 777-8F by drilling the first hole into a wing spar as it works
towards the first aircraft delivery in 2028. Korean Air also intends to
purchase 20 777-9s, 25 787-10s and 50 737-10s.
"This
agreement with our long-standing partners, Boeing and GE, marks a pivotal
moment for Korean Air," said Walter Cho, chairman and chief executive
of Korean Air.
"Acquiring
these next-generation aircraft is the core of our fleet modernization strategy,
delivering significant gains in fuel efficiency and enhancing the passenger
experience across our global network.
"This
investment is also a critical enabler for our future as a merged airline with
Asiana, to ensure that our combined carrier is one of the most competitive
airlines in the industry."
"We
are honored to strengthen our partnership with Korean Air through this landmark
agreement, which reflects the value and capabilities of Boeing's market-leading
airplane family," said Stephanie Pope, president and chief executive
of Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
"As
Korean Air transitions to a larger unified carrier, we are committed to
supporting the airline's growth with one of the world's most efficient
fleets."
The 777-8F
was originally anticipated to come to market in 2027, but in October 2024,
Boeing announced it would delay launch until 2028.
Customers
have ordered 59 777-8Fs since Boeing launched the programme in 2022 with Qatar Airways as the launch customer.
Boeing's
most recent order was from China Airlines. The carrier formally ordered four 777-8Fs following its announcement in December that it planned to
invest in the model.
China's e-commerce volumes shift to
Europe
E-commerce
volumes from China to the US have decreased, while volumes from China to Europe
have increased, new research has found.
For the
period May-July, the US receieved 15% of China’s e-commerce exports. This is
down 16% from the same period last year, shows data from supply chain
consultancy firm, Aevean.
E-commerce
volumes have shifted to Europe. The region received 27% of exports from
May-July, up 6% year on year.
Hungary,
Belgium and the UK now receive 53,000 tonnes combined, said Maarten Wormer,
head of consulting in a LinkedIn post on 25 August.
"Europe's top 3 destinations together welcome ±6 daily widebody freighters worth of e-commerce MORE in 2025 May-Jul than one year ago," he said. The share of ex-China e-commerce to other regions has also risen from 48% to 57%.
E-commerce
geographical distributionE-commerce
volumes from China to the US began declining in May after the US govenment
removed the de minimis exemption that allowed packages worth less than $800 to
enter duty-free and with minimal customs scrutiny.
The
removal of the exemption means packages from China transported by a commercial
airline will need to pay a 30% tariff rate, or, when using postal
networks, they will be subject to a rate of 54% or a flat fee of $100.
A
whitepaper recently released by TIACA also found that Asia Pacific has become a greater origin
point for e-commerce air cargo volumes
following US tariff and de minimis changes that curbed e-commerce out of China.
Menzies completes G2 acquisition and grows in US
G2 and
Menzies Aviation workersMenzies
Aviation has completed its $305m acquisition of G2 Secure Staff to become
the largest independent aviation services provider in the US - by number
of airports served.
G2
provides terminal, cabin, ground and cargo services, alongside GSE and vehicle
maintenance. G2’s current cargo services include import and export cargo
handling, freight/mail handling, cargo security screening, customs automated
manifest system (AMS) clearance, and specialised handling, including dangerous
goods, live animals, pharmaceuticals and perishables.
The
deal, first announced in April, is expected to boost Menzies’ Group revenue by 20% to more
than $3.1bn.
As a
result of the acquisition, Menzies’ US footprint has doubled to over 110
locations and the company has expanded services at more airports, including
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL) and major airline hubs
such as Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and Denver International
Airport (DEN).
Menzies
current executive vice president Americas, John Redmond, will continue to lead
the region as he has done for 18 years. G2 senior management will join
Redmond's team.
G2’s
operations will be rebranded as Menzies Aviation. Integration will begin
immediately.
Hassan
El-Houry, executive chairman, Menzies Aviation said: “Acquiring G2 is a
strategic long-term investment and significant milestone in our global growth
journey. It is also a direct response to customer demand for Menzies to offer a
broader range of services at more airports."
He added:
"After 25 years as a key player in the U.S. market, we are now
structurally aligned to support capacity growth, digital transformation, and
labour demand."
Philipp
Joeinig, group chief executive, Menzies Aviation, said: “This
deal isn’t just scale for the sake of scale. It’s high-volume,
high-readiness infrastructure that meets growing airline demand for seamless,
multi-airport service coverage.
"It
provides an opportunity to raise standards for aviation services across the U.S
and globally through the roll out of our industry-leading training, safety,
sustainability and technology across all new operations.
"With
our reach extending into dozens of new local economies, we see the G2 Menzies
combination unlocking job creation and upskilling opportunities. G2 has built a
successful business, and we’re focused on working together to capitalise on our
strengths to support our 20,000-strong U.S. team to deliver greater value for
our partners.”
Menzies
now operates at 350 airports in 65 countries.
Initial A350F fuselage sections arrive
at Toulouse final assembly line
Airbus has
received the initial fuselage sections for its A350 freighter, MSN700, at its
final assembly line in Toulouse, France.
The
central fuselage sections 15-21 as well as the forward sections 11-14 have been
produced by the facility at Montoir-de-Bretagne – formerly known as
Saint-Nazaire.
Airbus
A350F forward sectionAirbus
supplies these sections through its Airbus Atlantic aerostructures division.
The Montoir-de-Bretagne site assembles and equips all centre and forward A350
fuselages. According to Airbus Atlantic, the initial A350F sections have been
delivered to Toulouse, the final assembly line for the cargo twinjet.
It
described the delivery as a “major milestone” for the programme which
highlighted the “industrial excellence” and “strength of collaboration” across
the division’s various facilities.
Despite
announcing in February that it had pushed back the entry-into-service date of
the A350F to the second half of
2027, Airbus has hit some key production milestones this year.
The first section 19, which is the aerostructure located aft of the main
fuselage barrel and interfaces with the tail of the aircraft, was delivered in
March.
In April,
the first forward fuselage section of the aircraft was equipped with essential systems, and in May the company completed manufacturing the first set of A350F wings.
Last
month, Airbus completed manufacturing the first horizontal stabiliser (HTP) for the A350 freighter at its plants in Spain.
Finnair joins Liquid Sun to produce SAF
in Finland
Finnish
tech firm Liquid Sun has kicked off a pilot project to produce sustainable
aviation fuel (eSAF) in collaboration with Finnair, ABB, Fortum, and Finavia,
according to an official release from Finnair. The pilot seeks to build a fully
operational ecosystem and value chain for synthetic fuel production in Finland.
The EU’s
sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) blending mandate positions Finland to emerge
as a key producer of synthetic fuels in the coming years. Finnish company
Liquid Sun is launching a globally unique pilot project to produce renewable,
sustainable aviation fuel (eSAF) from biogenic CO₂ emissions.
Originating
from research at Tampere University, Liquid Sun has developed an innovation
based on low-temperature electrolysis (LTE) technology that converts CO₂
emissions and renewable hydrogen into eSAF. For this pilot, Liquid Sun has
partnered with Finnair, ABB, Fortum, and Finavia.
In
Finland, biogenic CO₂ emissions are generated, for example, by the forest
industry and biogas plants, the release added. The pilot electro-fuel
production unit in Espoo is set to become fully operational by autumn 2025. As
the first pre-commercial production pilot of its kind in Finland, it aims to
create a functional ecosystem and value chain for synthetic fuel.
Through
this collaboration, the partners will jointly develop eSAF production, carry
out validation, and build capabilities for globally scalable processes,
ensuring a future supply of domestically produced sustainable aviation fuel.
“Finland
has the opportunity to become a leading producer in the rapidly emerging
sustainable aviation fuel market. To achieve this goal, it is critical that the
project brings together industrial partners across the eSAF value chain with a
shared ambition to accelerate the transition to sustainable fuels,” says Pasi
Keinänen, CEO of Liquid Sun.
At the
beginning of 2025, the EU aviation blending mandate entered into force,
requiring the gradual increase of renewable fuel use in aviation through 2050.
From 2030, the mandate will expand to include fully synthetic fuels made from
CO₂. By 2050, the blending requirement will rise to 70%, of which half must be
eSAF. The mandate applies to airports with at least 800,000 passengers or
100,000 tonnes of cargo annually.
In
Finland, this includes Helsinki-Vantaa and Rovaniemi airports. “As the owner
of Finland’s airports, we at Finavia want to do everything we can across the
aviation value chain to support more sustainable air travel. This means bold
climate collaboration with our stakeholders, and actively understanding and
testing new technologies across our airport operations,” says Henri Hansson,
SVP, Airport Infrastructure, Sustainability, Safety, Security &
Compliance at Finavia.
Emirates marks 25 years of cargo and passenger services in Chennai
Emirates,
the world’s largest international airline, is celebrating 25 years of
operations in Chennai, a key metropolitan hub and an important gateway in its
South India network. In addition to passenger services, Emirates SkyCargo, the
cargo division of Emirates, has played a vital role in linking Chennai’s
farmers, manufacturers, and small businesses to international markets.
It
continues to move high-value and time-critical goods, including perishables,
electronics, and engineering products. In the last financial year, the carrier
transported 19,300 tonnes of cargo from Chennai, comprising fresh fruits and
vegetables, pharmaceuticals, and general cargo, helping local producers and
exporters expand their reach worldwide, according to an official release from
Emirates.
Upon the
arrival of flight EK544 from Dubai, operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the
aircraft was welcomed with a celebratory water cannon salute in Chennai. “We
are delighted to celebrate 25 years of service to Chennai and connecting its
people to our global network. We would like to thank M.K. Stalin, Chief
Minister of Tamil Nadu, for joining us in our celebration, marking an important
pa
rtnership
that has grown from strength to strength over the years. The unwavering support
of the authorities and all local stakeholders has been invaluable to the
success of our operations, and we extend our sincere gratitude on the
occasion,” says Mohammad Sarhan, Emirates’ VP, India and Nepal.
Since
launching its inaugural flight on 1 September 2000, Emirates has carried over
10.7 million passengers on more than 38,000 flights between Dubai and Chennai.
For the
past 25 years, Emirates has been instrumental in strengthening Chennai’s global
connectivity, offering seamless access to its expansive network across six
continents. Chennai remains a key market for Emirates in South India, with
strong demand driven by business travellers, leisure passengers, and the large
visiting friends and relatives (VFR) segment.
Popular
destinations for travellers from Chennai include San Francisco, New York,
Chicago, Washington D.C., Dallas, Boston, Seattle, Paris, London, Manchester,
and Frankfurt. Emirates also supports strong inbound flows into Chennai from
the same key markets in addition to Kuwait, underscoring its role as a bridge
for travel, trade, and cultural exchange, the release added.
I hope you have enjoyed reading the above
news letter.
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 1Branches : Chennai, Bangalore,
Mumbai, Coimbatore, Tirupur and Tuticorin.
Associate Offices : New
Delhi, Kolkatta, Cochin & Hyderabad.
Thanks to : Container News, Indian Seatrade, Cargo Forwarder Global & Air Cargo News.
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