Freight transportation reports, projects and other news from outside North America
7/7/2024
Israel: ZIM launches express service from central China to L.A.
Haifa, Israel-based ZIM Integrated Shipping Services now offers a premium service that connects central China to the U.S. West Coast.
ZIM Central China Express, which launched July 3, offers the “industry’s fastest transit time” 13 days from Ningbo, China, to Los Angeles.
The service features dedicated berths at origin and destination ports, expedited import containers discharged to ZIM-dedicated chassis, “efficient rail connections for swift inland distribution within the United States,” a streamlined import process and a dedicated lane for import pick-up, ZIM officials said in a June 27 press release.
Africa: Thelo Group unveils integrated logistics solutions for burgeoning African freight transport market
Thelo Group is now offering integrated (rail, port and rolling stock) multi-freight, multi-user transport corridors to more efficiently serve African movers of mining commodities, agricultural produce, containers and bulk liquids, the logistics solutions provider announced on June 25.
The new services are in response to the creation of Africa’s Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) single market. Africa’s transport sector is expected to expand by nearly 50%, Thelo officials said, adding that logistics-related transportation costs in Africa currently are as much as 75% higher than in other parts of the world.
Peru: DP World completes $400 million Port of Callao expansion
DP World has completed a $400 million expansion of the south terminal at Port of Callao in Lima, Peru, boosting container handling capacity at the terminal by 80%, DP World announced on June 21.
The project increases handling capacity from 1.5 million twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) per year to 2.7 million TEUs. The container yard also was expanded to a total of 40 acres.
The expansion also included extending the Bicentennial Pier from 650 meters to 1,050 meters, making Callao one of the few ports in South America that can accommodate three vessels (or two mega-vessels) simultaneously, DP World officials said.
Belgium: Sallaum Terminal unveils expansion in the Port of Antwerp
In response to “the ongoing logistics challenges faed by the automotive industry,” Sallaum Terminal in Antwerp, Belgium, in late June announced a 2-million-Euro expansion to boost capacity and streamline logistics processes.
Europe’s second-largest seaport, the Port of Antwerp serves as Sallaum Lines’ central hub for shipping activities in Europe.
The expansion includes the construction of a multi-story Parkhouse covering 47,000 square miles and will expand the terminal’s capacity to 15,000 car equivalent units.
“While Sallaum Lines has been the sole operator of the terminal, the expansion plans will enable us to accommodate new carriers and OEMs, allowing them to benefit from our terminal’s strategic location,” said David Vanballaert, the terminal’s managing director.
India: A good June for Indian Railways
In June, Indian Railways originated 135.46 MT of freight, a 10.1% increase compared with the same 2023 period, India’s Ministry of Railways announced on July 2.
The railway recorded freight revenue of Rs. 14,798.11, an 11.1% increase compared with June 2023’s total.
In June, the railway loaded 60.27 MT of coal (excluding imported coal), 8.82 MT in imported coal, 15.07 MT in iron ore, 5.36 MT in pig iron and finished steel, 7.56 MT in cement (excluding Clinker), 5.28 MT in clinker, 4.21 MT in foodgrains, 5.30 MT in fertilizers, 4.18 MT in mineral oil and 6.97 MT in containers, railway officials said.
Global digital logistics market to ‘surge’ to 73.97 billion by 2031 — report
The global digital logistic market will grow at a compound annual rate of 16.42% from 2024 to 2031, according to a report issued June 27 by Verified Market Research®. Valued at $25.53 billion in 2024 and will reach $73.97 by 2031, according to the report.
The market’s being driven in large part by the incorporation of Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence and big data analytics, the report’s authors wrote. “These technologies improve the visibility and effectiveness of the supply chain, resulting in lower operational expenses and increased customer satisfaction,” they added.
Other market drivers include the rapid expansion of e-commerce and international trade, and sustainability and regulatory compliance, according to the report.
Global freight-car market value to reach $279 billion by 2034 — FMI report
The global freight-car market size is estimated to reach USD $162 billion in 2024 … and a projected value of USD $279 billion by 2034,” Future Market Insights (FMI) officials wrote in a report issued July 1. Factors impacting the global market include:
• the advancement of freight-car tracking technologies, including the integration of sensors and IoT devices for real-time monitoring of cargo condition and maintenance needs;
• environmental regulations and a growing demand for fuel-efficient, low-emission freight cars, which has “spurred innovations in lightweight materials, aerodynamic designs, and the use of alternative fuels,” FMI officials wrote; and
• the demand for flexible, customizable freight cars to accommodate diverse cargo types and sizes. “Modular designs that enable easy reconfiguration of interiors or specialized fittings for specific commodities, such as perishable goods or hazardous materials, are becoming popular,” FMI officials wrote.