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 February
26, 2025
Today’s
Exchange Rates
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CURRENCY▲ |
PRICE |
CHANGE |
%CHANGE |
OPEN |
PREV.CLOSE |
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|
90.9525 |
-0.0075 |
0.008245 |
90.93 |
90.96 |
|
|
|
1.1789 |
0.0017 |
0.144414 |
1.1772 |
1.1772 |
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|
|
122.8924 |
0.105301 |
0.085759 |
122.8662 |
122.7871 |
|
|
|
107.1973 |
0.014595 |
-0.013613 |
107.197 |
107.2119 |
|
|
|
156.606 |
0.736008 |
0.472193 |
155.87 |
155.87 |
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|
|
1.3514 |
0.0025 |
0.18534 |
1.3489 |
1.3489 |
|
|
|
97.807 |
0.036003 |
-0.036797 |
97.855 |
97.843 |
|
|
|
0.5813 |
-0.0019 |
-0.325781 |
0.5835 |
0.5832 |
|
/// Sea Cargo News ///
Coldest Baltic Winter
in 15 Years Puts Russian Exports at Risk
An intense cold spell has gripped the Baltic Sea, marking the iciest winter conditions in 15 years and raising concerns over potential disruptions to Russian export flows through key northern ports. Expanding ice coverage across parts of the Gulf of Finland and surrounding waters has slowed vessel movements and increased reliance on icebreaker assistance.
Shipping operators report longer turnaround times and higher operating costs as navigation becomes more complex under severe weather conditions. Russia relies heavily on Baltic ports for the export of crude oil, petroleum products, coal and fertilisers.
Terminals such as Port of Primorsk and Port
of Ust-Luga are particularly vulnerable during prolonged freezes, as ice
accumulation can restrict tanker access and delay cargo loadings.
Maritime authorities have stepped up
icebreaker deployments to maintain navigational safety and keep trade lanes
open. However, analysts warn that if extreme temperatures persist, export
volumes could face temporary bottlenecks, potentially tightening supply in
global energy and commodity markets.
The harsh winter underscores the seasonal
risks facing northern shipping routes, where climatic conditions can quickly
impact logistic chains. While Russia has invested in ice-class vessels and
winter navigation infra -structure, sustained freezing conditions remain a
challenge for uninterr-upted export operations.
UAE Expands Strategic
Grip on East Africa’s Key Ports
The United Arab Emirates is strengthening its
presence across East Africa’s maritime gateways through a wave of port
investments, long-term concessions and logistics partnerships aimed at securing
strategic trade corridors. Emirati operators — notably DP World and AD Ports
Group — have expanded their footprint in countries including Somalia, Tanzania
and Egypt, targeting multipurpose terminals, container facilities and
integrated logistics zones.
Recent years have seen major concessions
secured at strategic coastal locations, providing UAE-linked firms with
long-term operational control and investment opportunities in port
modernisation, infrastructure upgrades and hinterland connectivity. These
projects are designed to enhance cargo efficiency, boost trade volumes and
position East African ports as competitive transshipment and export hubs.
Analysts say the UAE’s push aligns with its
broader strategy to diversify global trade routes and secure supply chain
resilience, particularly along the Red Sea and western Indian Ocean corridor.
The region’s growing population, expanding consumer markets and rising
commodity exports make East Africa an attractive destination for long term
infrastructure capital.
While host governments welcome the inflow of
investment and technical expertise the expanding Emirati footprint also
reflects intensifying competition among global powers for influence over
critical maritime choke points. As projects advance, the UAE’s role in shaping
East Africa’s port and logistics landscape is expected to deepen further.
Global Expansion Lifts
AD Ports’ Portfolio to 36 Assets
AD Ports Group has expanded its global
footprint to 36 ports and terminals, marking a major milestone in the company’s
international growth strategy.
The expansion reflects a series of
acquisitions, new concessions and strategic partnerships across key trade
corridors in the Middle East, Europe, Africa and Asia. The move strengthens AD
Ports’ position as an integrated trade, transport and logistics enabler with a
diversified portfolio spanning container terminals, multipurpose ports and
industrial zones.
Company officials said the enlarged network
enhances connectivity between regional and global markets, supporting cargo
flows across energy, bulk, containerised and Ro-Ro segments. By leveraging its
integrated business model, AD Ports aims to offer end-to-end solutions
combining ports, maritime services, logistics, and economic cities and free
zones.
The portfolio growth aligns with Abu Dhabi’s
broader economic diversifi-cation objectives and reinforces the emirate’s role
as a global trade hub. Recent international investments have focused on high
growth markets and strategic maritime chokepoints, enabling the group to tap
into expanding trade volumes and supply chain realignments.
With 36 operational assets now under its
umbrella, AD Ports Group said it remains committed to pursuing value-accretive
opportunities, digital innovation and sustainable port development to drive
long-term growth and resilience.
IMO
welcomes entry into force of Beijing Convention
The Beijing Convention on the Judicial Sale
of Ships enters into force on February 17, 2026. The treaty creates a
harmonized system for recognising judicial sale of ships across borders. It
aims to make international ship transactions safer and more efficient.
The convention was developed by the UN
Commission on Inter-national Trade Law and adopted by the UN General
Assembly in 2022. It addresses long standing risks faced by buyers and
financiers when previous creditors claim rights over vessels after a sale.
Under the convention, a judicial sale in one
State Party is recognized by all other parties. Buyers receive a “clean title”,
free from prior debts or maritime claims. This protects new owners from future
ship arrests in foreign ports.
States must issue a notice and where
applicable, a certificate of judicial sale. IMO will act as the repository for
these documents. It will publish them through a dedicated module on its GISIS
platform, giving stake holders public access to standardized information. Until
now, judicial sales depended on national laws, which differed widely.
The Convention modernizes the system and
reduces legal uncertainty. It lowers transaction risk, supports stronger ship
values and facilitates smoother international trade. The Convention applied when a sale takes place
in a State Party and the ship is located in that state at the time. It enters
into force for Barbados, El Salvador and Spain.
So far, 33 states and the European Union have
signed the Convention. This includes major maritime nations such as China,
Belgium, Italy, Panama, Singapore, Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
Two
more shipping lines add Port of Riga to routes
At the beginning of this year, two new
container cargo lines started operating in the Port of Riga. The ships of the
British company Ellerman City Liners will connect the Port of Riga with the
Ports of Gdynia, Teesport, Tilbury and Rotterdam.
Meanwhile, ships of the leading international
sea container carrier company Hapag Lloyd will operate on the route
Wilhelmshaven-Hamburg- Klaipeda-Riga-Rauma-Helsinki-Wilhelmshaven.
Vessels of both shipping lines will call the
Port of Riga once a week. Hapag Lloyd is one of the world’s top global
container shipping companies. Its fleet boasts 305 modern container ships with
a total transport capacity of 12.5 million TEUs per year.
The company employs 17,400 staff in more than
400 representative offices across 140 countries.
TCI Partners with
FLYING WHALES to Bring Heavy-Lift Cargo Airships to India
A landmark Indo-French collaboration is set to redefine India’s logistics ecosystem, as Transport Corporation of India Limited (TCI) has entered into a strategic partnership with FLYING WHALES and its operational arm FLYING WHALES SERVICES to explore next-generation cargo airship operations in India.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was
formalised on the sidelines of the official summit between Emmanuel Macron and
Narendra Modi, underscoring deepening industrial and technological cooperation
between France and India.
The agreement was signed in the presence of
Vineet Agarwal, Managing Director of TCI; Rajkiran Kanagala, Chief Business
Officer at TCI; and Sébastien Bougon, President of FLYING WHALES and FLYING
WHALES SERVICES.
Industry observers note that the partnership reflects growing interest in alternative freight technologies as India pushes for more sustainable, flexible and infrastructure light logistics solutions to support rapid economic growth and large scale infrastructure development.
Adani Group Eyes
MRO and Freighter Conversion Play to Power India’s Air Cargo Growth
India’s air cargo sector may be on the cusp
of a structural shift, with the Adani Group reportedly exploring entry into
aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) and passenger-to-freighter
(P2F) conversions—an area increasingly seen as critical to sustaining cargo
growth.
For years, the industry’s focus was on
airport infrastructure—terminals, cold-chain facilities and customs efficiency.
However, as express logistics, e-commerce and high-value shipments expand, the
bottleneck has moved upstream.
The real constraint now lies in how quickly
freighter aircraft can be inducted, converted and deployed. Globally,
narrow-body freighters such as the Boeing 737-800 and the Airbus A321 have
become the backbone of express networks due to their lower operating costs and
suitability for high-frequency routes.
In India, where cargo growth is increasingly
driven by time-definite, network led demand, domestic P2F capability could
significantly reduce reliance on overseas conversion queues and shorten time to
capacity cycles.
Industry experts note that establishing a P2F
line requires strong international partnerships, certified engineering designs
and robust supply chains. If executed effectively, the move could also catalyse
India’s MRO ecosystem, attracting component suppliers, training institutes and
special -ised service providers around airport hubs.
While execution risks remain, Adani’s
potential entry signals a shift from building cargo infrastructure to
strengthening the industrial backbone that powers fleet readiness-an essential
step for India’s ambitions as a cargo driven economy.
Kenya Airways
Moves Quickly to Stabilise Flights After Strike
Kenya Airways said it expects flight
operations to return to normal within 24 hours after a strike disrupted
services, causing delays and cancellations across parts of its network.
The airline confirmed that contingency plans
were activated immediately following the industrial action, with management
working closely with employees, aviation authorities and airport stakeholders
to minimise the impact on passengers.
Several domestic and regional flights were
affected during the disruption, while long-haul services faced delays due to
crew availability and scheduling adjustments.
Kenya Airways apologised to customers for the
inconvenience and advised travellers to check flight statuses before heading to
the airport.
The carrier said it is prioritising the
clearance of backlogs and the repositioning of aircraft and crew to restore its
regular timetable as swiftly as possible. Additional customer support teams
have been deployed to assist affected passengers with re-booking and travel
arrangements.
The airline emphasised its commitment to
maintaining operational reliability and safety standards as it works towards
full recovery. Industry analysts noted that while short term disruptions can
strain airline schedules, swift coordination and communication are key to
stabilising operations within tight turnaround timelines.
Air Charter
Service Flies Fresh Blueberries to New York
Global aircraft charter specialist Air
Charter Service has successfully transported a time-sensitive shipment of fresh
blueberries to New York, ensuring the perishable cargo reached market in peak
condition.
The consignment, sourced from a major South
American producer, required urgent uplift to meet strong demand in the United
States. Given the short shelf life of fresh berries, Air Charter Service
arranged a dedicated freighter aircraft to move the cargo directly to John F.
Kennedy International Airport, minimising transit time and handling.
Company representatives said the operation
involved close coordination between growers, freight forwarders, ground
handlers and customs authorities to maintain strict cold-chain requirements
throughout the journey. Temperature-controlled loading and rapid offloading
procedures were implemented to preserve freshness and quality.
The charter solution was selected over
scheduled services to provide greater flexibility, faster transit and
guaranteed capacity during a peak export window. Demand for fresh produce
imports into the US typically rises during seasonal gaps in domestic supply,
increasing reliance on air freight for high-value perishables.
Air Charter Service noted that the successful
blueberry airlift underscores the growing importance of bespoke air cargo
solutions in supporting global agricultural trade and meeting tight retail
delivery timelines.
Middle East
Carriers to Capture Half of New Air Freight Capacity
Airlines based in the Middle East are
expected to absorb nearly half of all newly delivered global air freight
capacity in the coming years, reinforcing the region’s growing dominance in
long-haul cargo operations.
Major operators including Emirates SkyCargo,
Qatar Airways Cargo and Etihad Cargo have continued to expand their freighter
fleets and widebody belly-hold capacity, capitalising on their strategic
geographic location between Asia, Europe and Africa.
Industry forecasts indicate that a
significant portion of upcoming widebody freighter deliveries and passenger
aircraft conversions will be allocated to Gulf carriers, driven by sustained
demand for e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, perishables and high-value industrial
shipments. The region’s hub-and-spoke model, supported by world-class airport
infra-structure enables efficient trans-shipment across major global trade
lanes.
Analysts note that Middle Eastern airlines
have leveraged strong balance sheets and long term fleet planning to secure
early delivery slots for new generation freighters, including factory built and
converted aircraft. Investments in digital cargo platforms, cold chain
facilities and specialised handling capabilities have further strengthened
their competitive position.
The anticipated influx of capacity is
expected to consolidate the Gulf’s role as a global air cargo powerhouse, with
carriers aiming to capture growing trade flows while enhancing network
resilience and service reliability across key international markets.
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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