JUPITER SEA & AIR
SERVICES PVT. LTD, EGMORE – CHENNAI, INDIA.
E-MAIL : Robert.sands@jupiterseaair.co.in Mobile : +91 98407 85202
Corporate News
Letter for Friday September 05,
2025
Today’s
Exchange Rates
|
CURRENCY▲ |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
DAY's LOW-HIGH |
|
88.15 |
0.07 |
0.079473 |
88.07 |
88.08 |
87.9925- 88.1925 |
|
|
1.1648 |
-0.0014 |
-0.120047 |
1.1662 |
1.1662 |
1.163- 1.167 |
|
|
118.4828 |
0.405304 |
0.343252 |
118.2885 |
118.0775 |
118.183- 118.5654 |
|
|
102.6428 |
-0.030602 |
-0.029805 |
102.6597 |
102.6734 |
102.5591- 102.8071 |
|
|
148.399 |
0.298996 |
0.201888 |
148.10 |
148.10 |
147.793- 148.628 |
|
|
1.3433 |
-0.0011 |
-0.081826 |
1.3444 |
1.3444 |
1.3417- 1.3459 |
|
|
98.309 |
0.167 |
0.170161 |
98.152 |
98.142 |
98.08- 98.322 |
|
|
0.5944 |
-0.0001 |
-0.016824 |
0.5949 |
0.5945 |
0.5938- 0.5958 |
/// Sea Cargo News ///
Kamarajar Port becomes India’s first port to handle automobile
transshipment
Kamarajar Port Limited (KPL) has created history by becoming the first port in India to handle automobile transshipment operations. On 27th August 2025, KPL handled its maiden transshipment consignment when 550 cars belonging to Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL) Group were discharged at the General Cargo Berth from the car carrier m.v. Tourmaline Ace.
The vehicles, originating from Singapore,
were parked at the GCB Transit Yard for onward shipment. The consignment
will be reloaded onto the car carrier, M.V. Marguerite Ace, on 29th August for
delivery to destinations including South Africa, Mauritius, and Tanzania.
With more such consignments expected in
the coming months, KPL is poised to emerge as India’s hub for automobile
transshipment, further strengthening its role in global trade logistics.
Big vessels could be used as collateral for loans
India is likely to allow large ships to
be used as collateral for loans. This proposal aligns with plans to ease
financing for the maritime industry. "Lenders can accept large
vessels as collateral... a decision on the minimum size of ships that can be
offered will be taken in the next two months," an official aware of the
plan said.
The average cargo handling capacity of
Indian ships engaged in coastal trade stood at around 1,700 gross tonnage (GT),
while those involved in overseas operations stood at 24,700 GT. The wide
variation within these two categories has prompted extended deliberations
within the government on where to draw the line.
"Banks would prefer larger ships that are more valuable and can be traced easily to be offered for collateral," the official added. According to the Maritime India Vision 2030, Indian shipping companies struggle to grow tonnage due to difficulties in accessing required finance.
Interasia Lines has announced the launch
of its new Mozambique–Jebel Ali–India (MJI) service, a direct shipping
connection between West India and key ports in East Africa, effective July
2025. The new weekly service follows the rotation: Mundra – Nhava Sheva –
Mombasa – Dar Es Salaam – Beira – Maputo – Jebel Ali – Mundra, linking Indian
exporters and importers with growing markets in East Africa and the Middle
East.
A major highlight of the MJI service is
the direct inclusion of Beira and Maputo, marking Interasia Lines’ first direct
entry into Mozambique. This expansion not only boosts trade potential with
Mozambique but also strengthens connectivity with Kenya (Mombasa) and Tanzania
(Dar Es Salaam), thereby enhancing the overall service network across the
African continent.
Traditionally focused on Intra-Asia and
the Indian Subcontinent, Interasia Lines has now broadened its footprint by
establishing new service corridors in Africa. The company said the MJI service
reflects its commitment to delivering reliable, flexible and diverse shipping
options for shippers and consignees seeking access to emerging global markets.
With Africa’s growing role in international trade, this expansion positions
Interasia Lines as a stronger partner for businesses looking to tap into
India-Africa-Middle East trade flows.
Qatar keen to pursue trade agreement with India
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush
Goyal on Friday (August 29, 2025) said Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Oman
will be finalised soon, and Qatar also wants to negotiate a pact with
India.
He also assured exporters of all support
to deal with the current global uncertainties at the trade front, which was
caused due to unilateral actions of a country. The government is in
consultation with all the stakeholders, including Indian Missions abroad, for
diversification of exports, he said.
He added that domestic consumption will
get a boost from GST reforms. "Our exports this year will be higher
than last year," Mr. Goyal said at an event here. India's share in
global trade is only about 2%, and about 40% of items of the total exports to
the U.S. are out of the ambit of 50% tariffs, so the impact will be less.
Free Trade Agreement with Oman "will
be finalised soon," he said, adding "Qatar also wants to do a trade
agreement", and Saudi Arabia is also keen. Mr. Goyal added that talks with
the European Union for a free trade agreement are moving at a faster pace.
Indian exporters eye African markets to offset impact of 50% US tariff
Indian businesses are looking to expand
production in Africa for exporting to the US, after President Donald Trump hit
the South Asian nation with one of the steepest levies globally as punishment
for purchases of Russian oil. GAP Inc. supplier Gokaldas Exports Ltd. and
premium garments maker Raymond Lifestyle Ltd. are among the companies planning
to leverage tariffs of as low as 10% in some African countries, compared to the
50% levy on Indian exports.
Diamond and jewelry exporters are also
looking into expanding on the continent. Indian companies are scrambling
to offset the pain from US tariffs and looking for workarounds to continue
servicing their American clients.
Labor-intensive sectors like jewelry and
apparel are the hardest hit and US levies may reduce exports of certain goods
by as much as 90%, according to a note. Overall exports from India to the
US, its biggest market, may more than halve after the higher tariffs that
kicked in on Wednesday, it added. India exported more than $20 Billion of
textile products, jewellery and diamonds to the US in 2023.
“We will continue to expand in Africa in
case of 50% tariffs,” Gokaldas Exports MD Mr. Sivaramakrishnan Ganapathi said
in a phone interview, even as he expects the tariff issue between US and India
to settle down soon. The apparel exporter has four factories in Kenya and one
in Ethiopia. Both these nations face 10% US tariffs.
Meanwhile, Raymond Lifestyle is
negotiating with its American customers to ship more merchandise out of the
company’s Ehiopia Plant to alleviate the tariff pain. “We can obviously shift
some of the clients to the Ethiopian factory,” CFO Amit Agarwal said.
Dharmanandan Diamonds, a gems exporter based in western Indian city of Surat, will consider boosting production in Botswana if US continues with high tariffs, Reuters reported citing the company’s MD Hitesh Patel.
Some US Customers are not very
comfortable taking deliveries from Ethiopia fearing disruptions from potential
conflicts, even though labour costs are about a third of India’s according to
Agarwal. That could change as India loses its competitive advantage with these
tariffs, he added.
Europe set to reimpose sanctions on Iran
Britain, France and Germany have
triggered a 30-day process to reimpose United Nations sanctions on Iran, a move
that threatens to shake up tanker markets.
The so-called snapback mechanism,
launched on Thursday, would reinstate wide-ranging sanctions suspended under
the 2015 nuclear accord, including restrictions on oil exports, financial
flows, and maritime trade.
Iran’s crude exports—already moving
largely in the shadows via a sprawling ghost fleet of elderly tankers—would
once again be designated as fully illicit under international law. Insurers,
financiers and port authorities would face renewed pressure to sever ties with
Iranian-linked tonnage.
The European move follows Donald Trump’s
so-called maximum pressure campaign he has waged against Iran since his return
to power in the US in January with a slew of sanctions aimed at Tehran.
DGCA extends IndiGo’s wet lease of Turkish 777 aircraft until February
2026
In a major development, India’s largest airline, IndiGo, has received a six-month extension from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) until February 28, 2026, to operate two leased Boeing 777 aircraft from Turkish Airlines.
Cathay
Cargo has been recertified for IATA’s Center of Excellence for Independent
Validators (CEIV) Lithium Batteries accreditation. The certification
offers reassurance for customers using the Cathay Dangerous Goods service,
which provides customers with precise handling and segregated storage across
all nine classes of dangerous goods, including flammable, radioactive and other
types of hazardous materials, along with the safe carriage of lithium-ion
batteries.
Cathay
Cargo first achieved IATA’s CEIV Lithium Batteries accreditation in
2023. “Safety is the cornerstone for all our operations, and particularly
when it comes to the transport of dangerous goods,” said Tim Wong, Cathay Cargo
general manager, cargo service delivery.
“The safe
carriage of lithium-ion batteries is a core focus of our cargo business and we
have introduced a series of safety protocols with our customers and operational
teams to mitigate any risks. This CEIV re-accreditation will give further
reassurance to our customers that we adhere to the highest standards of
handling in the industry.
“This milestone reflects our continued commitment to safety and operational excellence in handling dangerous goods, especially lithium battery shipments. This achievement was made possible through the collaborative efforts of our teams across the business and reinforces our position as a trusted leader in air cargo industry”.
Volga-Dnepr facing nationalization
AN-124 at
LEJ, once Volga-Dnepr’s preferred European hub, photo: CFG/hsThe Putin
regime might soon be in command of three additional AN-124 freighters belonging
to Volga-Dnepr’s fleet. They would add to the fleet of – supposedly – ten
AN-124 operated by the Russian Air Force.
Alexey
Isaikin, founder and former owner of the Volga-Dnepr Group, made the
announcement of the forthcoming asset transfer to the state during the
celebration of the Russian freight carrier’s 35th anniversary
at its homebase, Ulyanovsk.
There are
many victims of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Above all, the human victims:
Ukrainians, Russians, North Koreans, Colombians, and others. But those affected
also include private companies whose business models have been undermined by
the military attack which violates international law, provoking subsequent
Western sanctions. The cargo conglomerate, Volga-Dnepr, will soon become a
prominent name on the list of those who have fallen by the wayside. The
official date for this to happen is 31DEC25, but sooner decisions are
conceivable.
Network
cuts, loss of markets
According to market analysts – there are no official figures – Volga-Dnepr is
permanently incurring losses. With the adoption of sanctions against Russia and
the supporters of the invasion of Ukraine, Volga-Dnepr lost its most important
markets and the network of its once very profitable linehaul arm, AirBridge
Cargo, became obsolete. This was based on cargo transport between China and the
EU, with stopovers in Moscow or Novosibirsk, but Volga-Dnepr’s AN-124 and ABC’s
B747 and B777 freighters also served the U.S. and Canada, although to a lesser
degree.
The German
airport, Leipzig (LEJ), was the preferred base outside its Russian home turf,
where the company offered multiple MRO services. Under the name Strategic Air
Lift International Solution (SALIS), up to four AN-124s were stationed there.
The large freighters, partially provided by Ukraine’s SALIS partner, Antonov
Airlines, were deployed on behalf of NATO and most EU members in cases of
urgent humanitarian need or to supply military goods in support of ground
forces operating in Afghanistan or parts of Africa. However, the Russian
capacity provider withdrew from this lucrative joint venture in 2018,
presumably under pressure from Moscow.
Steady
decline
In recent months, Volga-Dnepr aircraft, including five Il-76 freighters, have
been operating within Russia or on routes to China, the United Arab Emirates,
and India: all countries that have not joined the Western sanctions regime.
This crippled network was not sufficient to generate profits, especially since
the AN-124 “Ruslan” aircraft are more than 30, in some cases 40 years old,
which makes them very prone to repairs. Added to this is Chinese competition,
which manages to secure ever larger shares of the Russian air freight market.
According to Rosaviatsiya, the Russian aviation authority, cargo traffic fell
by almost 7% in the first half of the year (year-on-year) to 202,000 tons. More
than half of the market (52.5%) was taken by the state-owned Aeroflot group.
Submission
instead of protest
Confronted with the fast-approaching end of his conglomerate and instead of
blaming Moscow’s martial policy for the downfall of his company, Volga-Dnepr
founder Alexey Isaikin, sends signs of loyalty to the Kremlin. During the
celebration of Volga-Dnepr’s 35th anniversary, including its linehaul
subsidiary, AirBridge Cargo, Isaikin said that the group “is of
interest to those who need its services, [ but] this interest is manifested in
light of the specifics of the current moment. There is something to take back
to the motherland,” Isaikin is quoted by the Russian daily,
Kommersant. Addressing the audience, he exclaimed that Volga-Dnepr has
represented Russian civil aviation with dignity on the international market,
where “they still mourn the company’s absence. The demand for
Volga-Dnepr’s capabilities for the state has been confirmed by its partnership
with the Moscow government. If the motherland says that the company must serve
the motherland, then so be it: nationalization, confiscation, a fair deal, any
form […].”
Isaikin is
smart enough to know that a submissive attitude toward those in power in the
Kremlin is equivalent to life insurance. Other fates have taught him that.
TIACA’s ACF 2025: Saying YAS to air
cargo!
Now that
the summer holidays are over, the air cargo industry is once again heading into
serious conference season from SEP25 on. The next three months are full of
events happening across the world. One of the last to happen this year, is
TIACA’s now annual Air Cargo Forum (ACF) taking place 03-06NOV25 at the Yas
Island Arena in Abu Dhabi (AUH).
It will be
the first time the ACF is held in its second home base, following last year’s
decision to alternate between Miami (MIA) and the UAE capital. TIACA recently
published some of the many panel topics that will be on offer. This is what you
can expect, if you’re still undecided about joining the 2000+ air cargo crowd
there.
CargoForwarder
Global signed up early for the event – all smug with WIZZ flights booked well
in advance until that moment when the airline decided, this summer, to focus
wholly on its European market and promptly pulled its UAE frequencies…
No big
loss for the air cargo industry in this case, but a brief inconvenience all the
same until alternative flights were found. What does impact air cargo in the
UAE and how AUH is carving its place in the global air cargo hub network, will
naturally be one of the topics of discussion at the ACF.
In one of the Oasis-Side Chats (nothing to do with a band revival, and everything to do with symbolism: fertile ideas in a desert environment): Stanislas Brun, Chief Cargo Officer, Etihad Cargo will reveal the airline’s plans for developing Abu Dhabi into a logistics hub.
A new
landmark for TIACA’s ACF. Image: TIACAMiddle
East as a Global Gateway
Not just AUH, but the Middle East as a whole is seeing incredible growth, thus
“The Middle East as a Global Gateway” is another panel discussion, no doubt
highlighting the significant infrastructure investments being made across hubs
like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Riyadh, and the region’s increasing role as a
critical cargo bridge between Asia, Africa, and Europe. Middle Eastern hubs are
positioning themselves as multimodal, digitally advanced, and
sustainability-focused logistics centers. Questions of interest could be: if
trade flows continue to shift eastward, will this region redefine old patterns
of global connectivity? And how resilient can these new freight corridors be
amid ongoing geopolitical uncertainty?
Digitalization
in Air Cargo
A staple of all conferences over the past years is the ongoing digital
transformation of the air cargo industry. It has long struggled with fragmented
systems, slow adoption of technology, and insufficient transparency compared
with other parts of the global supply chain. Yet, there are plenty of stars on
the horizon and the ACF 2025 sessions will explore how advanced tools ranging
from digital booking platforms to predictive analytics and blockchain can
unlock major gains in efficiency, visibility, and resilience.
With
automation, robotics, and other potential arising from AI, change can come that
will both solve and stimulate processes around another rapidly growing area:
that of e-commerce. Discussions at ACF 2025 will dig into what e-commerce
shippers now expect from supply chain partners – likely more transparency,
better data integration, and seamless end-to-end delivery. Can the industry
scale quickly enough to keep pace with double-digit e-commerce demand, given
ongoing capacity restraints and infrastructure bottlenecks? What do the
panelists think?
Workforce
challenges
Digitalization and automation are just one half of the equation – alongside
innovation, which will also have its own panel focus. Equally pressing are the
workforce challenges facing our industry. The demand for skilled professionals
continues to grow, but recruiting and retaining talent is difficult.
Attrition
rates are heightened by long hours, intense competition, and generational
shifts in workplace expectations. Questions that might be answered in the
Workforce Challenges panel and during networking, could be: how can companies
make the air cargo sector more attractive to emerging talent? What new training
methods and educational partnerships will prepare workers for a digital,
data-driven future? Or as automation and robotics become more prominent, how do
businesses strike a balance between technology and the need to preserve human
expertise?
Aviation
Net Zero
The forum will also dedicate attention to the air cargo industry’s
sustainability commitments – particularly the industry-wide goal of reaching
net zero carbon emissions by 2050. Achieving this will largely hinge on the
scalability of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs), operational efficiencies, and
breakthrough technologies. But the road ahead is anything but straightforward.
Can SAF adoption realistically grow without substantial incentives? Or are
mandatory regulation and stronger carbon policies necessary? Is the sector
moving fast enough to align with broader climate goals, or are aspirations
outpacing practical progress?
Where are
we heading?
The “Industry Trends and Outlook” panel will discuss the future of the industry
and what can be expected going forward. Possible questions to be answered could
be: How are macroeconomic factors, shifts in trade patterns, and volatile fuel
prices reshaping long-term planning? How can the industry adapt to shifting
supply chains, particularly with manufacturers diversifying beyond China? To
what extent will geopolitical fragmentation influence demand corridors? And is
the sector resilient enough to handle cycles of demand uncertainty – as seen
during the pandemic and economic downturns?
TIACA’s
verdicts
Steven Polmans says: “This year’s program reflects the breadth and depth of
the issues shaping our industry. From digital innovation to workforce
development, ACF 2025 will bring the right people into the right conversations
at the right time.”
Particularly
poignant – it will be his final ACF as TIACA Chair and one time slot will see
him reflect on his 6 years as chair of the board, before he then hands over to
Roos Bakker.
Glyn Hughes, Director General, comments: “Bringing the Forum to Middle East
offers a unique opportunity to connect global leaders with one of the
fastest-growing air cargo ecosystems. We look forward to insightful discussions
that will shape the industry’s future.”
Indeed!
CargoForwarder Global will be there to listen, learn, and report. Will you?
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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