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

 

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

 

 

Corporate News Letter for  Tuesday  July  14,  2026

Today’s Exchange Rates

CURRENCY▲	PRICE	CHANGE	%CHANGE	OPEN	PREV.CLOSE
USD/INR	95.62	0.290001	0.304207	95.70	95.33
EUR/USD	1.14	-0.0016	-0.140157	1.1419	1.1416
GBP/INR	128.0547	0.2239	0.175153	127.9993	127.8308
EUR/INR	109.3118	0.379097	0.34801	109.0445	108.9327
USD/JPY	162.372	0.692001	0.428007	161.72	161.68
GBP/USD	1.3372	-0.0032	-0.23873	1.3396	1.3404
JPY/INR	0.5903	0.0012	0.203704	0.5895	0.5891

///                   Sea Cargo News            ///

CITPL Achieves Record Monthly Throughput of 97,211 TEUs in June 2026

The achievement reflects the terminal’s sustained focus on operational efficiency, productivity, and customer-centric services while reinforcing Chennai Port’s position as a key gateway for India’s international trade.   

The record performance was made possible through the collective efforts of CITPL’s workforce, shipping lines, logistics partners, customers, and other stakeholders, whose continued collaboration has contributed to the terminal’s growth and operational excellence.    

The milestone underscores CITPL’s capability to efficiently handle increasing cargo volumes and support the evolving requirements of the global shipping and logistics industry.

It also highlights the terminal’s commitment to delivering reliable, seamless, and world-class container handling services.With this achievement, CITPL further strengthens Chennai Port’s role in facilitating India’s growing EXIM trade and enhancing the country’s maritime logistics infrastructure. 

MV Graceous Becomes Largest Vessel to Enter Visakhapatnam Port’s Inner Harbour

The vessel, carrying more than 100,000 metric tonnes of coal, was safely navigated and berthed at EQ-1 following meticulous planning and seamless coordination between the Visakhapatnam Port Authority’s marine team and Anglo-Eastern’s onboard crew.

The operation was led by Capt. Anurag Puniya and Abhirup Dalai, whose expertise ensured the successful handling of the large Capesize vessel within the port’s inner harbour.      

The achievement highlights the growing capability of Visakhapatnam Port to accommodate larger vessels while demonstrating the importance of close collaboration between port authorities, ship managers, and vessel operators in executing complex marine operations safely and efficiently.         

Anglo-Eastern said the milestone reflects its continued commitment to delivering safe, efficient, and high-quality ship management services worldwide. The company also acknowledged the support of Teh-Hu Cargocean, the Visakhapatnam Port Authority, and its seafarers and shore-based teams for their role in successfully completing the operation.

The successful berthing of MV Graceous further reinforces Visakhapatnam Port’s operational capabilities and strengthens its position as one of India’s key gateways for handling large bulk cargo vessels.

SABIL Completes First Wheat Shipment Unloading at NEOM Port, Strengthening Saudi Grain Supply Chain

The vessel delivered 66,000 tonnes of wheat, with the operation forming part of SABIL’s strategy to diversify logistics channels, improve supply chain efficiency, and enhance operational flexibility while expanding access to key regional markets.     

According to the company, the use of NEOM Port will significantly reduce transit times for grain shipments destined for its branches in the northern regions of Tabuk, Al-Jawf, Hail, and Al-Qassim, improving distribution efficiency and customer service levels.

SABIL said the initiative reflects its commitment to developing a more resilient grain supply system through strategic partnerships and advanced logistics solutions. The company noted that leveraging Saudi Arabia’s strategic ports is essential to ensuring the uninterrupted and sustainable flow of grain, particularly amid evolving regional geopolitical and supply chain challenges.  

The company also emphasized that the move aligns with the Kingdom’s broader food security objectives by enhancing the reliability and flexibility of grain imports and domestic distribution.      

Located on the Red Sea, NEOM Port is being developed into an integrated logistics hub that will play a central role in Saudi Arabia’s transport and trade ambitions. Its strategic location provides direct connectivity between Asia, Europe, and Africa through an extensive network of maritime, road, and land transport corridors.      

The port is designed to support a comprehensive logistics ecosystem, offering cargo handling, inland freight services, short-sea shipping, and multimodal transport solutions connecting destinations across Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, and the wider Middle East.        

The successful handling of the inaugural wheat shipment further reinforces NEOM Port’s growing role in supporting the Kingdom’s logistics transformation and enhancing the efficiency of regional agricultural supply chains. 

Cargo Ship Reports Attack near Hodeidah, Yemen

UKMTO received a report of the incident at about 0720 hours UTC on Sunday. The master of a cargo vessel issued a distress alert at a position about 30 nautical miles to the southwest of Hodeidah, the largest Houthi-controlled seaport on Yemen's Red Sea coast. The master reported that the vessel was under attack by "unknown armed assailants."     

The region has historically been under firm Houthi control, lowering the odds of a for-profit piracy incident. However, the Houthis - the sole instigators of attacks on passing vessels in the area in years past - ceased aggression against international shipping last year.

The group recently renewed its threats against against Israeli ships only, citing Israel's territorial incursion into southern Lebanon, where Houthi-allied terrorist group Hezbollah holds sway. The national ties of the vessel involved in Sunday's incident have not been disclosed.   

Multiple incidents have been reported off the coast of Balhaf, Yemen, in the Gulf of Aden. The area is on the east side of Bab el-Mandeb and outside of Houthi control. 

On July 1, the crew of a vessel reported that a small boat approached, and that armed assailants initiated an illegal boarding. The attackers damaged equipment on the bridge and other nearby compartments while the crew remained hidden in the citadel.

Later the same day, the master of a tanker reported a suspicious approach by a craft with four people aboard at a position about 85 nautical miles to the south of Balhaf. 

On June 21, a product tanker reported an attempted boarding by five personnel in a skiff in the same region. On June 17, a vessel was attacked by two skiffs with armed personnel on board, and the merchant ship's embarked security team had to drive them off with small arms fire.

On June 15, a vessel reported the approach of a small skiff. The assailants in the small boat opened fire on the merchant ship with an RPG launcher. A similar attempted attack occurred on June 9.

Ship Linked to Tehran Grounds in Strait of Hormuz

Initial reports indicate that the grounding has not resulted in a major disruption to commercial shipping. However, authorities are assessing the vessel’s condition and coordinating efforts to ensure safe navigation in the surrounding area.

Investigations are underway to determine the circumstances that led to the incident, including whether navigational, technical or environmental factors played a role.     

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global maritime chokepoint through which a significant share of the world’s crude oil, liquefied natural gas and other commodities transit each day. The shipping industry closely watches any incident in the waterway due to its potential impact on vessel movements, freight costs and regional supply chains.     

Maritime authorities and industry participants continue to monitor the situation while salvage and safety assessments are carried out.

Shipping companies are expected to follow official navigational advisories, but normal commercial traffic is continuing as authorities work to ensure the safe and efficient movement of vessels through the strait. 

With 84 next-generation containers, Lhyfe continues to strengthen the operational capacity of its green hydrogen supply chain in Europe

Lhyfe (EURONEXT: LHYFE), one of the world’s pioneers in the production of green and renewable hydrogen for decarbonisation, is strengthening its logistics capabilities, which since 2021 have supported some sixty or so industrial and mobility players in their energy transition.

Lhyfe is thereby reinforcing its ability to further develop the European green and RFNBO hydrogen market through bulk distribution. On this occasion, the company is proud to present the key pillars of its supply chain.

In 2021, Lhyfe commissioned its first green hydrogen production site in France (Pays de la Loire), followed by two additional sites in Brittany and Occitanie. In 2025, a first site was installed in Germany (Baden-Württemberg). These four sites obtained RFNBO certification in 2025.

The company now has 21 MW of installed capacity, which is set to increase by 70% in 2026, enabling broader territorial coverage and closer proximity to customers.

Alongside its production activities, Lhyfe has developed one of the most advanced hydrogen supply operations in the European market:

In 2025, Lhyfe passed the milestone of 1,000 deliveries. The company significantly accelerated operations in France, Sweden, and Germany, averaging 55 deliveries per month to mobility and industrial customers, thereby strengthening its European footprint. Over the year, the Group completed more than 850 deliveries in Europe.

Matthieu Guesné, Founder and CEO of Lhyfe: “The development of the green hydrogen supply chain is a cornerstone of the sector’s growth. The bulk market is the first to scale up—it is already enabling pioneering players to initiate their energy transition. To support them, we have been committed since 2021 to building a comprehensive, efficient, reliable, and flexible supply chain."

///                   Air Cargo News            ///

Texel Air to offer cargo charter services from Western Sydney Airport

              Image: © Western Sydney International Airport

Texel Air Australasia has signed up to operate its air cargo charter services from the soon to be opened Cargo Precinct at the new Western Sydney International (WSI) Airport.

The 24-hour cargo precinct is officially due to open this month, with Qantas one of the first cargo airlines to fly from the hub on the evening of 27 July.

As well as Texel Air and Qantas Freight, Menzies Aviation and dnata are also due to operate from the site.

WSI chief executive Simon Hickey said: “We are mere weeks away from opening Western Sydney International’s Cargo Precinct and we’re delighted that will now include Texel Air that has the next-generation capability and capacity to deliver excellent air cargo and logistics services.

“Texel Air will join our top-tier Cargo Terminal Operators including Qantas Freight, Menzies Aviation and dnata Cargo as another valued partner for the launch of the hub this month.”

He added: “Texel Air’s fleet of Boeing 737-800BCFs is well positioned to support those customers – thereby strengthening services for its anchor domestic partners that move freight around the nation each week while offering international charter capability to help drive more access to lucrative global markets.”

Texel Air founder and chairman, John Chisholm, said the Western Sydney International platform aligned strongly with the company’s operating model and long‑term growth plans.

“Western Sydney International is a transformational piece of infrastructure for Australian air cargo that will enable consistent, reliable 24‑hour operations, and Texel Air is well positioned to support it by providing flexible, aircraft‑on‑demand capacity that complements existing freight networks and strengthens overall supply chain resilience,” he said.

“We’ll be able to respond quickly to customer demand, regular freight flows, and time-critical shipments, which is exactly what a 24-hour cargo precinct enables. WSI also gives Texel Air a platform to scale charter and scheduled support services in and out of Sydney with far greater efficiency than legacy airports.”

WSI’s major construction works were completed in June 2025 – which included WSl’s terminal, its 3.7km runway, and the precinct’s carparks, roads, bridges and utilities.

Akasa Air Cargo launches mobile app powered by SmartKargo

         Image: © Shutterstock Song_about_summer/ Shutterstock

Indian carrier Akasa Air Cargo has launched a new mobile app using SmartKargo technology to enable efficient booking, shipment tracking and account management for cargo agents and shippers.

Developed on the SmartKargo platform, the Akasa Air Cargo mobile app brings together key cargo functions including flight search, booking, real-time shipment tracking, shipment milestones, arrival information and account management within a single interface.

The app is designed to be intuitive to support faster decision-making and execution without challenges.

Available for download on Android platforms, the app is currently accessible to registered cargo agents and approved shippers operating across Akasa Air’s growing domestic route network.

Oliver Houri, chief revenue officer, SmartKargo, said: “Mobile-first distribution is no longer a competitive differentiator — it is a commercial imperative. The launch of the Akasa Air Cargo mobile app reflects the kind of forward-thinking partnership we champion at SmartKargo.

“By extending our platform’s core capabilities to a native mobile experience, we are enabling Akasa Air to capture demand at the moment of intent, reduce booking friction, and deepen agent engagement in ways that were simply not possible before. We are proud to power this next chapter of Akasa Air’s cargo growth story.”

Anand Srinivasan, co-founder and chief commercial officer, Akasa Air, added: “The future of air cargo will be shaped not only by network scale, but by how seamlessly customers can access and interact with that network.

“At Akasa Air, we are building a cargo proposition that combines a growing network with technology-led solutions that simplify the movement of goods. The launch of the Akasa Air Cargo mobile app is a significant step in that journey, enabling customers to book, track and manage shipments with greater convenience and transparency.

“In less than four years since commencing operations, Akasa Air has emerged as a key player in India’s air cargo market, and this launch reinforces our commitment to building a modern, reliable and customer-centric cargo business that supports the country’s evolving trade and logistics landscape.”

According to fleet tracking website Planespotters, Akasa Air has a fleet of 40 Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft.

The airline currently connects with 28 domestic and seven international cities, including Doha, Qatar; Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Abu Dhabi, UAE; Kuwait City; Phuket, Thailand; and Hanoi, Vietnam.

Air India offers forwarders capacity through cargo.one

                              Image: Shutterstock © WeChitra

Air India has placed its capacity on the airfreight booking portal cargo.one to enhance its self-service booking offering.

From today, cargo.one users can find available capacity, obtain quotes and book general cargo up to 2,500 kg on Air India’s international services between destinations in India and global gateways such as Frankfurt, Amsterdam, Zurich, New York, San Francisco, and Tokyo.

The partnership brings the carrier’s capacity within direct digital booking channels for the first time.

Moritz Claussen, founder and co-chief executive of cargo.one, said: “It is tremendously exciting to bring Air India Cargo’s significant capacity to our thriving global customer base.

“As forwarders apply agentic AI for optimized decision making, quoting and booking, it is imperative that carriers like Air India Cargo have their capacity fully integrated into these modern operating methods, particularly within large global forwarders who power their procurement and sales at scale with cargo.one.”

Air India’s cargo offers services throughout South Asia and other key trade lanes globally through hub facilities in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru.

The airline has partnered with cargo.one amid a backdrop of investment, expansion and renewal, including having placed landmark orders for 600 new aircraft.

Ramesh Mamidala, head of cargo at Air India Cargo, commented: “As Air India continues its transformation journey, enhancing digital capabilities and customer experience remains a key focus for our cargo business.

“Our partnership with cargo.one expands the digital accessibility of Air India’s cargo network and capacity to freight forwarders worldwide, enabling faster, more seamless booking experiences and improving ease of doing business across markets.

“This collaboration will help us strengthen our commercial reach while offering customers greater convenience, agility and efficiency.”

There have been plenty of developments at cargo.one this year so far in addition to new carriers joining its booking portal. In March, cargo.one launched what it said is the “industry’s first AI-native operating system for multimodal freight”.

Saudia Cargo also recently become the first carrier to roll out the latest generation of cargo.one AI workers for sales operations at scale.

Day of the DAWB – and an EU customs duty

01JUL26 saw two unrelated regulatory shifts come into effect on the same day, affecting the air cargo and e-commerce logistics industries, and causing consternation and challenges for freight forwarders. One reshapes the contractual backbone of air freight documentation, the other rewrites the economics of low-value e-commerce imports into the European Union.

    More work, hassle, confusion, fees and potential pitfalls. Image:                                     Canva AI generation/CFG

The first shift concerns the IATA Direct Air Waybill (DAWB) framework – the standard documentation used across much of the air cargo industry. Amendments to that framework were adopted by IATA’s Cargo Agency Conference under an expedited procedure, with implementation set for 01JUL26.

The trouble is that the normal safeguards around such changes appear to have been bypassed. FIATA, the global freight forwarding federation, had exercised its formal right under the Cargo Agency Conference (CAC) Resolution 801c to request a review of the decision and postpone the effective date to 01OCT26, accordingly.

Yet, the IATA-FIATA Consultative Council did not convene in time to make a recommendation back to the Cargo Agency Conference, despite repeated requests. Thus, the amendments went ahead as scheduled. FIATA Director General, Dr Stéphane Graber, emphasized: “The review mechanism exists for an important reason: to ensure that significant changes affecting the rights, responsibilities and liabilities of all affected market players – including freight forwarders, shippers and airlines – are properly considered before they take effect.

That critical procedural safeguard has not been respected before the scheduled implementation date. In the absence of a meaningful review, airlines should provide complete transparency regarding the contractual framework they intend to apply from 01JUL26.

Freight forwarders cannot reasonably be expected to assume significant new contractual obligations or liabilities outside of their function without legal certainty or a proper opportunity to assess the resulting operational and insurance implications.”

FIATA and AfA unhappy with IATA

The Airforwarders Association in the U.S. echoed FIATA’s request for clarity from the other side of The Pond. Its concern is concrete: the revised framework could shift liability for cargo misdeclaration, hidden dangerous goods, or packaging failures away from the shipper – the party actually creating the risk – and onto the forwarder, an intermediary whose day-to-day role has not changed.

AfA’s Executive Director, Brandon Fried, framed the core objection simply — forwarders shouldn’t be on the hook for cargo they don’t own, pack, or control. He warned: “Businesses should not assume their existing cover will automatically respond if contractual liability changes.

Smaller and medium sized freight forwarders, in particular, should carefully review both their contractual position and insurance arrangements before accepting shipments under the revised framework [as the changes potentially create] significant legal, operational, and insurance consequences for freight forwarders.

Forwarder liability insurance is designed around the services freight forwarders actually perform, not around assuming shipper obligations.”

IATA’s guidance leaves much to be desired

Compounding the confusion, IATA’s own guidance points forwarders towards a patchwork solution – engaging bilaterally with individual airlines to clarify what contractual terms will actually apply before cargo is accepted, and noting that shippers can still appoint forwarders as agents and negotiate to keep existing DAWB arrangements in place carrier by carrier.

In other words, there is no single, industry-wide answer to “what are the new rules?” – only an instruction to go and ask each airline separately.

That advice has proven necessary in practice. Early signals suggest airlines are not moving in lockstep: some carriers reportedly have no intention of applying the revised framework from 01JUL26, while others are proceeding.

FIATA has written to airlines worldwide seeking confirmation of their intentions and how, practically, the new framework will be applied to shipments. AfA’s Fried also warns: “The possibility that all airlines may not implement these changes in the same way creates unnecessary confusion at a time when the industry needs clarity. We strongly encourage freight forwarders to seek written confirmation from every airline regarding the contractual framework being applied, rather than assuming a consistent approach across the market.”

The inconsistency between carriers is itself part of the problem. A forwarder working across multiple airline networks may now be operating under different liability regimes depending on which carrier is used for a given shipment – precisely the kind of fragmentation that undermines confidence in a documentation standard that is not, in fact, standard.

And now: the EU change on low-value imports

The second change that came into effect on 01JUL26, was the European Union’s abolishment of the long-standing customs duty relief for imported goods valued at EUR 150 or less. In its place is a temporary flat-rate customs duty of EUR 3, intended to remain in force until 01JUL28, when a broader customs framework – built around the EU Customs Reform Package and a future EU Customs Data Hub – is expected to take over.

The EUR 3 charge mainly applies to B2C e-commerce: goods bought remotely, often through online marketplaces, and sent directly from outside the EU to a consumer inside it – and regardless of how import VAT is handled, though there are certain exceptions. Goods qualifying for preferential tariff treatment under a free trade agreement or customs union continue to receive that treatment instead, and other existing customs duty provisions outside the new mechanism remain unaffected.

The calculation method matters for anyone handling volume, as the EUR 3 is charged per line on the customs declaration, with identical goods under the same tariff code generally consolidated onto one line. In other words: a parcel of five identical t-shirts under one commodity code draws a single EUR 3 charge, while a parcel containing a t-shirt, headphones, and cosmetics – three different codes – draws EUR 9.

Accurate tariff classification can therefore become a direct cost driver – though who eventually pays the charge depends on individual agreements between importers, marketplaces, logistics providers and end customers.

The EU’s stated rationale is to close a gap that had reportedly been exploited through undervaluation and outright customs fraud, to level the playing field between EU and non-EU sellers, and to strengthen consumer protection while the fuller reform package is built out.

How are freight forwarders affected?

For forwarders and customs representatives active in cross-border e-commerce, the customs change brings a list of to-dos from reviewing representation arrangements so customers understand the new charging structure, to tightening up tariff classification given its direct link to cost, checking that declaration systems can handle the per-line calculation, and revisiting comprehensive guarantees and deferred payment arrangements since higher duty volumes can affect the reference amount those guarantees are based on.

Contracts with importers, marketplaces and supply chain partners will likely need updating to reflect the new charge, and forwarders should brace for a rise in customer queries about why import costs have changed.

And there are more changes to come in the EU’s bid for modernized e-commerce regulations. Mandatory Product Identifiers for qualifying low-value e-commerce imports will arrive from 01NOV26, meaning IT and declaration systems face a second adjustment on the horizon before the transitional customs duty itself is expected to give way to the full reform package in 2028.

The common thread

What links the two developments isn’t subject matter – one is a contractual documentation standard, the other a fee mechanism – but timing and effect. Both took hold on 01JUL26 without the settled clarity forwarders would normally expect from a change of this scale.

On the DAWB side, a review process that was meant to test the amendments before they took effect was overtaken by the implementation date itself, leaving forwarders to individually chase down each airline’s position.

On the customs side, the mechanics are clearer on paper, but the operational load – tariff accuracy, guarantee reviews, contract updates, system changes – has all come at the same time, with more change already scheduled for November.

SAL supports Singapore Airlines with air cargo handling in Riyadh

                 Image: © Dr David Sing/Shutterstock.com

SAL has signed a strategic agreement with Singapore Airlines to provide ground handling and air cargo services at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh.

Under the agreement, SAL Handling will provide these services. The yearly renewable agreement supports SAL’s efforts to expand its integrated service portfolio across the air cargo ground handling industry.

Omar bin Talal Hariri, chief executive of SAL, said: “Partnering with a globally respected carrier such as Singapore Airlines is a testament to the quality and reliability of SAL’s ground handling and air cargo services.

“Through this agreement, we are committed to delivering world-class operational standards that support the growth of the Kingdom’s aviation and logistics sector and reinforce its position as a global hub for transport and logistics, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.”

In March, SAL annouced the signing of a sale and purchase conditional agreement with Aviapartner Belgium NV and Aviapartner Holding NV to acquire 100% of their shares in Aviapartner Liège SA.

Aviapartner Liège SA is a specialised air cargo handling company operating at Liège Airport in Belgium, one of Europe’s leading air cargo hubs.

In September last year, Singapore Airlines announced it would switch cargo handler at Schiphol Airport, moving to Swissport from dnata.

The move came after dnata faced “operational challenges” during a move to a new facility at the Dutch hub in July.

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.