Asia-Pacific

Analysts and investors wait to hear about Amazon’s expanded presence in Southeast Asia and on-demand services.

Nuvera Fuel Cells is working with its parent Hyster-Yale Group to make fuel cell engines for medium- and heavy-duty truck applications, mostly for drayage and other return-to-base port activities.

Marine terminals to offer guaranteed empty returns, common portals for truck appointments.

Australia Post, a government-owned post and freight service, has reported revenues of just under A$7 billion but has experienced a massive fall in profits.

The Luxembourg-based airline takes an unusual path to pay for its latest B747-ERF.

MUFG Bank’s anticipated acquisition of the aviation finance business of DZ Bank draws scrutiny.

Norway’s Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a major global ocean carrier of vehicles, now faces a criminal prosecution in Australia after the local competition regulator filed charges against it.

Rates manage to outperform volume drops as carrier swings to profit.

The Navy decides to migrate and consolidate logistics technology to the Cloud. Japan’s air freight industry has China as a roadblock. New York struggles to manage truck congestion.

The summer doldrums were broken violently by an escalation in the U.S.-China trade war and tweets

The vast majority of Aussie truck drivers are either fat or obese and they have a terrible diets, new research has found. Meanwhile, New Zealanders fund electric vehicles and Aussie trailer maker reveals a shocker set of financial results.

Hino Trucks is already increasing its investment in a new plant in West Virginia, where it will build Class 7 and 8 trucks in addition to medium-duty models.

Fourth-largest ports operator sees tepid volume growth, but logistics provides offset.

Trucking, freight and international forwarding business TIL Logistics (NZX: TLL) of New Zealand has reported solid revenues of NZ$355.1 million (US$226.94) and a small net profit after tax of NZD$4 million (US$2.56 million).

Sanguine outlook could flip, but retailers look well stocked ahead of peak season.

Integrated bulk, rail, trucking, box, warehousing and ports operator, Qube (ASX: QUB), has announced weighty full year earnings of A$1.73 billion (US$1.5 billion). It also made net profit after tax of 15. 4 percent to A$123.2 million. But it sees a subdued economy ahead…

Napier Port, located in Hawke’s Bay on the North Island of New Zealand, has begun trading on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZH) at an offer price of N$2.60 (US$0.64), raising NZ$234 million (US$149.94 million).

WiseTech (ASX:WTC), a global provider of advanced logistics software, has reported a whopping 57 percent growth in revenues and a massive 37 percent net profit after tax for its full 2018-2019 financial year. Revenues generated in the last financial year stood at A$348.3 million and net profits were $54.1 million.

Canada Pension Plan Investment Board to acquire up to 8 percent of fast-growing e-commerce fulfillment company.

Logistics provider LBC Express (PSE: LBC) of Manila, the Philippines, has reported a massive rise in revenues in the second quarter of 2019 but a big slump in net profit after tax.

The world’s biggest coal port moves forward with US$500 million plans to import LNG into Australia… which is the world’s biggest LNG export nation.

Sime Darby Berhad (BM: 4197) has directly told FreightWaves it paid about NZ$211 million (US$136 million) to acquire automotive and construction machinery dealer Gough Group of New Zealand.

Ohio-based container yard/terminal management software system Depot Systems has today been bought by Sydney, Australia-based WiseTech Global (ASX: WTC) for an undisclosed sum.

Borderlands is a weekly rundown of developments in the world of United States-Mexico cross-border trucking and trade. This week: Mexico’s transport industry grows; AIT Worldwide expands Mexico operations; Nuevo Laredo sees more […]

Australia’s road transport industry has a way to go in ensuring gender equity. Research has found that female workers encounter misogyny, bullying and discrimination. In other Down Under Trucking news: mistake is no defence to trucking crime; supermarket boosts safety after loading dock death; logistics giant snaps up drayage business; CTI Logistics expects a small profit.

Global logistics provider Agility (DFM: AGLTY) reported a 20 percent increase in net profit for the second quarter of 2019. Agility reported a more modest rise in revenues.

Rupert Hogg, CEO, and Paul Loo, Chief Customer and Commercial Officer, have both quit their jobs at Cathay Pacific. The company has appointed two replacements.

Drones may be one of the key answers to last-mile delivery. Read about how drones are being used around the world.

Earlier today in Europe, Danish shipping giant A.P. Moller–Maersk (NASDAQ: Maersk A; NASDAQ: Maersk B) reported a massive increase in second quarter profit and earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization. Revenues “grew slightly,” the shipping mega-conglomerate said.

News of a Japanese electric-powered oil tanker set green-hearts fluttering around the world. Electric marine craft will likely be a big thing in coastal markets but not in the long-haul trades.

Meritor, Inc. is growing its manufacturing footprint in India by 25 percent with a $36.5 million axle assembly facility at Automotive Axles, its joint venture with Kalyani Group in Mysore, India. Meritor also is opening a research and development center in Mysore.

Kuala Lumpur-headquartered trading conglomerate Sime Darby (BMB: 4197) of Malaysia has conditionally acquired the privately held automotive and construction machinery dealer Gough Group of Christchurch, New Zealand.

As protests continue at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), the disruption has not caused major delays in air cargo shipments or dramatic increases in rates, experts told FreightWaves. Protests at […]

In Texas, several major and regional airports posted large increases in air cargo trade for the first six months of 2019. Amarillo International Airport’s trade with the world rose a […]

Manila, Philippines-based international container terminal operator, ICTSI (PSE: ICT) has reported a massive increase in profit and a substantial increase in revenues for the first half of 2019.

Japanese gas explorer, prospector and transporter INPEX (JPX: 1605), which is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, announced a solid upswing in revenues, operating income and net income.

Australian bulk rail freight operator Aurizon (ASX: AZJ), which owns one of the world’s largest coal rail networks, reported a 15 percent decline in full year profits. Statutory earnings before interest and taxation (EBIT) were down by 14 percent and revenues were down 7 percent.

All flights into and out of Hong Kong have been shut down by the Hong Kong Airport Authority owing to the occupation of the airport by protestors.

In Australia this last week: police criticized two truckers who died in very adverse visibility conditions; a serial trucking offender was hit with a big fine plus legal costs for numerous legal infringements; more electric vehicles on the road; trucking association wants electric vehicles to be taxed; advanced brakes company wins big order; toll road operator raises half a billion dollars but analysts are unimpressed.

Chinese tariffs are impacting American agriculture. But declines in exports to other countries are also hurting American agriculture.

Many of north-east Asia’s mega ports are directly in the path of two super-typhoons. The first is about to blow in from the Pacific and will make landfall within the next few hours.

China’s ports are the most connected ports in the whole world, mega-study reveals. Ports elsewhere in Asia flesh out the top twenty. U.S. ports don’t make an appearance until way down the list.

A supply-demand imbalance and oceanic low-sulfur fuel regulations are making air freight more attractive relative to ocean freight. Or, at least, that is what air carriers hope.

Chinese port throughput volumes (all cargoes) for the first half of 2019 are up 7.3 percent compared to the first half of last year, according to the latest official Chinese data. First half 2019 foreign cargo volumes through China rose 2.5 percent compared to the prior corresponding period. And box throughput rose 5.1 percent. Read on to find out more!

The Port Report focuses on another vessel being seized in the Strait of Hormuz.

In Australia this week… new tunnels and roads to eliminate trucks; cattle and driver nearly burned alive; human remains found after truck explodes; controversial logistics software company vows to fight class action and the regulator; I’ll huff and I’ll puff and I’ll blow… you off the road!

A pair of enormous crates carrying parts of a South Korea-bound drilling ship will be transported along highways through the Houston area over the next four days. According to Ronnie […]

Goods like clothes and toys are on the proposed tariff list.

Japan’s Cabinet on Aug. 2 approved a measure that will allow the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) to impose new licensing policies and procedures on exports and transfers of controlled items to South Korea.

The U.S.-China trade war has dropped trade volumes between the two countries to date in 2019. One result – Mexico is now the #1 trade partner of the U.S.

Automotive carrier Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K-Line) has been convicted of being in a criminal cartel and has been fined nearly US$23.4 million in Australia.

Japans K-Line shipping company reported its fiscal first quarter earnings.

Chinese billionaire Liu Zhongtian, former president of China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd., was indicted by federal court in Los Angeles for allegedly evading $1.8 billion antidumping and countervailing duties on aluminum shipments.

Japanese shipping company NYK;s fiscal first quarter earnings are covered in this article.

An overview of Japanese shipping company MOLs fiscal first quarter earnings is covered in this article.

Ocean Network Express (ONE) expects slightly better profit this year than previously forecast as costs drop one year into its full operation.  But overall demand remains tepid as it lowered […]

Jim Wilson reports on Hong Kong-listed dry bulk ocean shipping company Pacific Basin’s earnings.

Ceva Logistics posts weak first-half results, pressured by economic weakness, subpar airfreight volumes and loss of big ocean contract

Eternity México recently launched ELIS, a new cloud-based platform to track international freight shipments in real-time between major markets from Asia to Latin America. ELIS (Eternity Logistics Intelligent System) was […]

Innocent third parties who get caught up in Australia with illegal drug logistics, such as employers and transport operators, do not appear to fear the threat of having their property seized by the authorities.

Indiana-based Cummins Inc. (NYSE: CMI) reported higher revenue and net income, but the power technology company’s second quarter earnings came in below analysts expectations. Cummins posted second quarter earnings of […]

How will Pittsburgh Airport build on its air cargo success so far?

Furniture-makers may face long slog in adjusting to tariffs on Chinese imports; Autonomous freight trains to be tested

OOCL reported its second quarter 2019 earnings while also announcing that it was canceling several Asia-Europe sailings for a three-month period.

Australia’s competition watchdog, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), has expressed competition fears over the acquisition of the wharf-side GrainCorp Liquid Terminals by independent bulk liquid storage company ANZ Terminals. The ACCC has formed a preliminary view that the potential sale would “substantially lessen competition”… and that’s the first step on the way to blocking the A$350 million (US$248 million) deal.

Free trade deals are driving demand for logistics staff in Australia, says recruiter Hays. Meanwhile, the Australian Federal Government is handing out cash to boost trucking, cargo and road safety. Trucking fuel is much in the news with a new bio-diesel plant opening but industry groups are calling for a better uptake of electric vehicles. Australia’s famed trucking museum may now be in jeopardy.

Asian city-state Singapore has seen a small fall in container volumes and a more noticeable fall in containerized cargo weights in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same period in 2018. Singapore is a bellwether for world trade volumes and it does a substantial amount of business with the U.S. as well.

BorgWarner sales and income declined in the second quarter but revised downward guidance for the rest of the year hammered shares.

Mostly ignored in the B2C rush, small business in the B2B realm are getting a seat at the e-commerce table.

Global equipment manufacturer Caterpillar’s (CAT) second quarter earnings disappointed analysts. The company cited a combination of tariffs, weaker sales in China and slower growth in the Permian Basin for the […]

U.S. next day air volumes set the pace for UPS’ second-quarter results

Stock market analysts are not excited by the initial public offering (IPO) of the container- and forestry-products focused Port of Napier on New Zealand’s east coast.

Criminal syndicates are smuggling huge volumes of methamphetamine around the globe by hiding it in the lawful flow of freight. Find out where meth flows, how it flows, and who profits as it flows.

UPS launches a slew of products in arguably its biggest one-day portfolio change in its history

Alibaba re-arranges the US B2B e-commerce landscape by opening its platform to US sellers

Ben Thrower explores the financial and political influence that China is wielding in Panama and around the Panama Canal.

A weekly round-up of events in Australia. This week: Melbourne forces trucks out of the inner city; cleaning up asbestos roads; obeying road signage fail; road train safety inspections.

Declaring an undervalue on imported watercraft has triggered demands for millions of dollars in duty from the authorities. Experts say customs authorities will, in future, only become more efficient… and aggressive.

Investor speculation that VW’s Traton SE would complete an acquisition of Navistar International took a hit along with the share price July 17 when the head of Traton said he was satisfied with the present 16.8 percent of the Illinois company’s shares.

A truck driver who was convicted and sentenced for dangerously driving his truck in a way that caused grievous bodily harm and severe brain damage to a young woman has escaped a much more severe sentence owing to bureaucratic failings.

A simmering industrial dispute in Australia burst into fire this morning when maritime box terminal operator DP World Australia used local media to threaten longshoremen with job losses. Strikes confirmed at Sydney, Fremantle and Brisbane.

A survey of 600 industrial buyers in three Asia-Pacific countries found that buyers rely as much on traditional forms of procurement channels as they do on e-commerce, and that so-called […]

Mexican factories exported a record-breaking 1.74 million vehicles worldwide during the first six months of 2019.  The majority of those vehicles – 1.37 million – were shipped north across the […]

Waterfront tensions are increasing as the Maritime Union of Australia declares more wharfside strikes around the country.

Ben Thrower recently visited the Panama Canal. He writes about the canal’s expansion and what that means to global trade and the maritime industry.

It can be a rough business doing freight and logistics in Australia. And now, in the Australian capital city of Canberra, it looks like the last-mile drone delivery business has gotten a fair bit more… dangerous!

A suspension “until further notice” of the latest round of draft restrictions on ships using the Panama Canal was issued yesterday by the Canal Authority. Dry conditions are likely to continue throughout July and may last to the end of the year.

An end to growth-stopping financial penalties on the Port of Newcastle is definitely not on the agenda after the NSW state government re-committed to its existing policy to keep the port in a crippled state.

Patrick Terminals in Sydney, Australia, shut down for about 19 hours over Monday, July 8 and Tuesday, July 9 after a worker tragically committed suicide.

Longshoremen around Australia are walking out on the job for two-, three- and four-day strikes in the latest collective employment dispute. A series of work bans on overtime and shift extensions is also now in effect.

Integrated logistics provider Qube (ASX:QUB) issued its formal takeover to the shareholders of target logistics service provider, Chalmers (ASX:CHR) on Monday, July 8.

Cathy Roberson writes about Beijing’s new airport – and plans for many new airports in China and what impact they may have on the economy of the country.

Two separate reports last week showed just how vulnerable trucks and trains are. Why are trucks and trains smashing into each other?

Truck driver Patrick Allen Boon must now serve nearly two decades in jail for beating his boss to death with a hammer and wrench in a two-stage attack.

Truckers are “aghast” at massive increases imposed upon them by marine terminal operators to use the Vehicle Booking System. State government action may now be in progress as consequence…

The U.S. fireworks supply comes primarily from China, and one company controls most of that trade. Read Market Expert Henry Byers’ fascinating article about fireworks!

Ships all over the world are running aground despite having highly trained, qualified and experienced crew. Why?

Airfreight volumes worldwide remained weak in May. However, there may be modestly brighter skies ahead in the second-half of 2019

Singapore, one of the world’s biggest centers for the supply of marine fuels, is now enforcing the mandatory use of mass flow metering system for the delivery of distillate fuels. The new mandate went into force as of July 1, 2019.