Airfreight rates set to rise
Date : 2007/08/20
Rising costs are likely to see air cargo carriers pushing up airfreight rates, according to the Shipping Gazette.
It quoted Nolan Palud of the San Francisco Air Cargo Association talking to Logistics Management magazine, and saying that “the airline pricing departments are responsible for formulating rates based on what it actually costs to provide lift”.
Adding that rates had been low for 40-years, Palud also said: “Rates are further confused by tacking on surcharges rather than demanding across-the-board increases.”
Although Giovanni Bisignani, CEO of the International Air Transport Association (Iata) recognised that demand appeared to be strengthening, he added that other factors had to be noted.
“We will be watching intensifying competition from other modes of transport and structural changes such as manufacturers producing lighter goods,” he said.
Higher interest rates and inflation weaken business conditions in Gauteng
Date : 2007/08/06
Retailers and wholesalers are feeling the pressure caused by a deceleration in real household income growth and higher debt levels, according to the Gauteng Business Barometer for June.
Consumers are forking out about 25% more on interest payments compared with last year, according to Standard bank chief economist Goolam Ballim. The average consumer spends 12% of income on debt repayments, which is up from 7% three years ago.
"The impact of high interest rates and inflation is clearly visible in the performance of the Economic Stress Index, a sub-index of the barometer that measures the negatives in the economy," says economist Mike Schussler.
Story By : Mark Jackson-Moss
Related Sections : Other
Another Chinese port hits record levels
Date : 2007/08/08
Stats from Guangzhou Port Authority show the container throughput hit 4.39-million TEUs in the first half of 2007, up 43.3% - the highest growth rate among all Chinese ports, reports Logistics Week.
The cargo throughput increased by 10% to 166-million tons.
Story By : Alan Peat
Related Sections : Other
Road Freight Association opposes sympathy strike by Cosatu affiliated unions
Date : 2007/06/13
The Road Freight Association yesterday told Cargo Info News that it was aware of reports that COSATU affiliated unions intended to embark on a sympathy strike today (Wednesday), in support of the Public Workers' strike that is currently in process.
"We wish to advise members that the RFEA has not received any notice from any of the relevant unions, as is required by law, in this regard," executive officer Magretia Brown said.
"We are therefore of the opinion that any participation in the proposed secondary strike will be unprotected since the Unions have not adhered to any of the legal requirements as set out in the Act pertaining to protected industrial action.
"As such their members may face disciplinary action, which could lead to their dismissal, should they participate in such industrial action. In addition to this a “no-work-no-pay” policy would be justified for any work stoppage in this regard."
The Association also expressed the view that the proposed secondary strike would not have the desired impact. "Our industry has no direct or indirect interest in the effected industry.
"It follows that such a secondary strike will primarily have an adverse effect on our industry whilst we are not directly involved in the dispute in question."
Story By : Joy Orlek
Temperature-sensitive airfreight to grow 10% per annum
Within the space of four weeks, Envirotainer is to increase the size of its 3 500 strong temperature-controlled container fleet by more than 10% to meet further market growth and demand for its equipment and services by the international healthcare sector.
Last year, in research by a consulting firm on behalf of Envirotainer, key decision-makers in the healthcare industry and logistics providers forecast that the volume of temperature sensitive airfreight would grow at 10% per annum for the next five years.
Still steady growth in SA economy
SA’s economic growth has continued steadily into the first quarter of this year, although easing somewhat from the last quarter of 2006, according to Danelee van Wyk, Standard Bank economics researcher.
“Economic value added expanded by a sterling 5% in 2006 from 5.1% in 2005,” she told FTW, “and, in the first quarter, real gross domestic product (GDP) increased by 5.4% - although easing from the upwardly revised 6.2% in Q4 last year.”
On a quarterly seasonally adjusted and annualised basis, growth eased to 4.7% in Q1 from 5.6% in Q4. Sectors that clocked up strong growth were construction (21.3%); agriculture (6.1%); transport and communication (5.8%); and financial and business services and real estate (5.7%).
The manufacturing sector expanded by 4.7% and wholesale and retail trade by 5%, but the mining sector posted a sharp contraction of 7.8% during the quarter - subtracting a half percentage point from quarterly growth.
Chinese port boosts business by over 40%
One of China’s smaller ports, Wenzhou, has also been a record-breaker, setting a new monthly container handling record in April of 31 525-TEUs - an increase of 40.5% compared to the same month a year ago.
Within this total, reports the Shpping Gazette, foreign trade cargo made up 10 097-TEUs.
Also, in the first four months of the year, the port registered a year-on-year throughput rise of 41% - to reach 101 123-TEUs
Port doubles breakbulk volumes
Breakbulk cargo handled through the SA Port Operations (Sapo) Multi-Purpose Terminal in East London has more than doubled over the previous year.
During 2006/07 123 251 tons were handled compared to 57 222 tons imported in the 2005/06 financial year.
Ports tonnage down but containers up
The latest figures released to Cargo Info News by the National Ports Authority (NPA) show that the country’s commercial ports handled a total of 13.9-million tons of cargo this February, and handled 320 349 TEUs.
This compared to 14.8-mts and 303 015-TEUs in January, and 15.4-mts and 261 435-TEUs last February.
Africa trade boosts Chinese port
Date : 2007/02/28
Total trade between the Chinse port of Ningbo and Africa exceeded US4-million (R6.5-billion) in January, showing a year-on-year increase of 14.5%, according the Chinese news agency, Xinhua.
Imports from Africa stood at US5-m (R3.94-bn) while the exports came to US9 m (R2.55-bn) - increases of 2.5% and 40.1% respectively.
The major export items included electric products, textiles, and fashion products, in which electric products had the highest volume - accounting for US6-m (R752.6-m) with a year-on-year growth of 34.8%.
Imports mainly related to energy commodities – with Ningbo importing US4-m (R3.86-bn) of petroleum in the first month, which accounted for 98% of the total import figure with a year-on-year increase of 7%.
Story By : Alan Peat
Related Sections : Other
| 
