Monthly Archives for September 2014

Foreign couriers seek clarity on China ruling to open domestic sector HONG KONG — The world’s top integrators are waiting to see how the recent ruling by China’s State Council to liberalise domestic package delivery will play out across the multi-billion dollar market dominated by a multitude of small low cost operators. A State Council […]

Forwarders not impressed with loss leading contracts HONG KONG — Large forwarders are less inclined to accept loss leading business and will turn down contracts rather than supply transport services at below break-even levels, according to logistics companies with strong Asia Pacific business. Following recent comments by Kuehne + Nagel CEO Detlef Trefzger that the […]

BDP merger with Mumbai partner to boost India business BDP International (India) and its long-time local partner Unique Global Logistics have approved a merger agreement between the two parties, allowing the Philadelphia-based logistics group to consolidate its operations in the country. “It is a merger of UGL into BDP, with the latter holding a majority […]

US retail holiday sales expected to top last year’s growth On an improved macroeconomic backdrop, U.S. retail holiday sales growth this year is  expected to top that of last year, putting increased pressure on logistics and parcel delivery companies. According to financial advisory firm Deloitte’s annual holiday sales forecast, U.S. retail holiday sales are expected […]

Huge China investment opens doors for logistics developer GLP HONG KONG – Logistics property developer Global Logistic Properties has completed the second and final tranche of its $2.5 billion agreement with a group of state owned companies and financial institutions in China that gives the company greater access to strategic property sites in one of […]

Rising e-commerce to keep China logistics growth in double digits, Citi says HONG KONG — China’s logistics industry is expected to show double-digit growth over the next five years, continuing a trend of 21 percent compound annual growth since 1991 and driven by rising online shopping and a growing trend of outsourcing non-core activities. In […]

Stifel: Growth in air, sea shipments expected in second half Stifel’s combined Logistics Confidence Index for sea and air freight in September increased 6.2 points year-over-year to 59.2. Full-size chart Air and ocean freight are expected to see “good” trade volume growth through the third and fourth quarters of 2014, especially in air freight, given […]

Analyst says commodity markets are working, fears overblown Facing record yields, plunging prices and forecasts of weakening demand, corn and soybean exporters are depressed. A commodities industry analyst Tuesday told the 2014 Soy Global Trade Exchange in Milwaukee their fears are overblown. Low prices invariably generate increased demand, so exports of corn, soybeans and energy […]

Gartner names Europe's best shipper supply chains Research firm Gartner identified 15 European companies with the best performing supply chains, based on metrics including inventory turns, return on assets and revenue. At the top of the list are food and consumer products manufacturer Unilever, Spanish retailer Inditex and clothing retail chain H&M. The same three […]

Seven factors XPO’s Jacobs says drive logistics growth There’s a reason XPO Logistics and other large third-party logistics and freight brokerage companies in the U.S. are growing rapidly. It’s not simply because they have the money to buy other companies, though that helps. It’s not location and it’s not luck. These companies — whether publicly […]