Monthly Archives for September 2014

With $700 million to spend, what will XPO Logistics buy next? Transportation analysts hailed the $700 million investment XPO Logistics won from three global funds yesterday. The question, they said, is what XPO will buy with that money. The third-party logistics operator has acquired 13 companies over the past three years, and plans to buy […]

Retailers sign for space as China business grows China’s logistics property investment is continuing at a rapid pace as retailers sign leases for specialised distribution centres to support their mainland expansion plans. Robust demand for retail and e-commerce logistics is providing warehouse property developers with a constant stream of business in both tier one cities […]

China factory production expands even after peak season surge to US, Europe Chinese factories are still expanding production even though most orders for the holiday season in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere have already been shipped, suggesting global demand is building. China’s official purchasing manager index fell 0.6 percentage points to 51.7 percent in August, […]

Air to ocean shift may be slowing as economy improves A long-term shift from air to ocean freight by shippers looking to cut transport costs and willing to tolerate longer transit times may be slowing as economic conditions improve, according to recent comments from transportation executives. “I think we saw the bulk of the movement […]

Forwarders find China’s VAT system 'clear as mud’ International freight forwarders that qualify for VAT exemption in China are complaining that the new system is unclear, drastically increases their administration work and leaves them with mountains of documents to file with the China Tax Bureau. “For every shipment, we need an agreement with the shipper […]

World Bank wants ‘task force’ to fix Cambodia logistics Weak logistics have stood in the way of Cambodia’s trade progress for years with its export costs at least 30 percent higher than those of Southeast Asian neighbours Thailand and Vietnam. Getting the goods from farmers to markets remains difficult, and exporters struggle to supply overseas […]

Japan, India to facilitate cooperation on infrastructure projects Japan has committed to doubling its investment in India to about $34 billion over the next five years. In addition, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to provide about $500 million in “overseas development assistance” loans to India Infrastructure Finance Co. to launch a public-private partnership infrastructure […]

Sical sells stake in MOL India auto joint venture Sical Logistics Ltd., India’s leading multi-modal logistics provider, is selling its 40.92 percent stake in Ennore Automotive Logistics, an automobile port yard joint venture with Japanese shipping group Mitsui O.S.K. Lines. “The board has approved the proposal to divest the company’s entire shareholding in the joint […]