Changi Airport, one of the world’s busiest airports by international passenger and cargo traffic in the first quarter of 2024, witnessed its air freight operations surge with aircraft movements totaling 89,400, representing a significant 94% of 1Q2019 levels. Notably, North America spearheaded this resurgence, surpassing pre-Covid levels by an impressive 25%. The key markets for the airport during this period were China, Indonesia, Malaysia, Australia, and Thailand, with a notable boost in travel between Singapore and China following the introduction of a mutual 30-day visa-exemption arrangeme ..read more

The prolonged conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, and Iran and Israel, along with economic instability in American and European markets, have sent shockwaves through the micro, small, and medium-sized enterprise (MSME) sector. As a result, increased freight charges, prolonged cargo turnaround times, and soaring insurance premiums have forced many export-oriented units to slash their outputs, with most currently operating at around 50% of their capacities. Brij Mohan Sharma, Joint Managing Director of RSWM Limited, LNJ Bhilwara Group, a leading yarn and knitting fabric manufacturer, shed ligh ..read more

After receiving the approval for being declared as a Customs-notified port earlier this week, Vizhinjam Port has received approval from the shipping ministry to operate as India’s first transshipment port. Current regulations require the shipping ministry’s nod to prevent competing projects from being permitted before capacity at operational ports is saturated. “This approval paves the way for customs to set up an office at Vizhinjam port. It will be India’s first full-fledged deepwater transshipment port,’ said a government official. He also mentioned that the final nod fr ..read more

Human Rights Watch commended the European Parliament’s decision on April 24, 2024, to endorse proposed European legislation aimed at compelling large corporations to address human rights and environmental violations within their global supply chains, marking a significant advancement in corporate accountability. The proposed EU Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) aims to establish legal obligations for large corporations to conduct thorough human rights and environmental assessments across their global supply chains. The vote in Strasbourg coincided with the 11th anniversa ..read more

Following a powerful IED blast on a crucial bridge along NH 2 in Manipur, the state finds itself grappling with a critical issue: over 150 trucks, laden with essential commodities destined for Imphal, are now stranded in Senapati district.  The blast, suspected to be the work of unidentified individuals, occurred in the early hours between Koubru Leikha and Saparmeina in Kangpokpi district.  While thankfully no casualties were reported, the explosion inflicted severe damage, creating three craters in the bridge and disrupting the flow of goods vital for the state’s functioning.  ..read more

The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced earlier this month about plans to transition its daily air cargo volumes to UPS. The decision precedes a major change in USPS’ delivery network – the termination of a two-decade partnership with FedEx in September 2024. On the other hand, its brand-new partnership with UPS hails an exciting time for the latter and aims to ensure uninterrupted service for customers, particularly during the bustling holiday season. The transition, outlined in detail during recent briefings, underscores UPS’s integrated network prowess and its commitment to fortif ..read more

Recent data released by Xeneta indicates a significant spike in carbon emissions in ocean freight container shipping, largely attributed to the escalating conflict in the Red Sea region. The Xeneta and Marine Benchmark Carbon Emissions Index (CEI), which  measures carbon emissions per ton of cargo transported across the world’s top 13 trades, surged to 107.4 points in the first quarter (Q1) of this year, marking its highest level since the index’s inception in Q1 2018, as stated by the Norway-based ocean and air freight rate benchmarking and market analytics platform. According to th ..read more

The much-anticipated trial run of cargo handling operations at the Vizhinjam International Seaport is scheduled to commence by the end of May 2024, marking a significant milestone in the port’s journey toward full-scale operations. With the arrival of specialized cranes from China and meticulous preparations by port officials, the trial run is expected to demonstrate the port’s capabilities in efficiently handling cargo. The Vizhinjam International Seaport in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala has been gearing up for the trial run by making essential arrangements, including the appointment of technica ..read more

In an age where digital transformation has become the norm across various industries, the air cargo sector has long been touted as the next frontier for complete digitalization. Yet, according to industry experts like Adrien Thominet, Executive Chairman of ECS Group, achieving full digitalization in air cargo may be a lofty goal that remains out of reach for the foreseeable future. Thominet’s perspective, shared recently with aircargoeye.com, offers valuable insights into the challenges hindering the complete digitalization of air cargo. He acknowledges that while there has been a significant ..read more

The analogy of customs topics being like an onion suggests that they have layers of complexity that are gradually unraveled and understood. Just as you peel away one layer of onion only to find another beneath it, delving into customs topics often reveals deeper and more intricate aspects that require further exploration. When you take any topic, you pass through various phases like Surface Understanding: Initially, when approaching customs topics, one might have a superficial understanding. Deeper Complexity: As you delve deeper into customs-related issues, you encounter additional layers of ..read more