16th February 2015 

Company News

Maersk

Maersk Line has switched the UK call of its Samba South America service from Tilbury to DP World London gateway Port.  The first call on the service will be made by the Maersk Lanco on 21^st March.

CMA CGM

CMA CGM is to acquire Singapore-based rival container shipping operator Neptune Orient Lines (NOL) for SG$1.30 a share, or around SG3.4bn (US$2.4bn).  It will result in a company with a combined turnover of U$22 billion and a fleet size of 563 vessels.

Hot on the heels of CMA CGM’s plan to take over Singapore’s NOL, two giants of Chinese shipping have confirmed that they are to merge after China’s state cabinet approved the deal in December.

VELTA LOGISTICS

Witham, Essex-based Velta Logistics has opened 100,000sq ft of additional warehousing close to its existing site.  The new premises are fully customs bonded and also have RF bar-coding and CFSP status.  Velta plans to bring containers direct from the Port of Felixstowe to Witham, unstuff them and store products for clients for distribution from there.

DSV

Danish forwarder DSV has completed its acquisition of US-owned UTi, first revealed in October last year.  As previously announced, the deal was worth around US$1.35 billion.

SCHENKER

DB Schenker Logistics is to take a three-quarter share of Redhead International and will combine its UK road activities in a joint venture with the forwarding company in early 2016.  The two businesses will be merged in a reverse integration and will trade as Redhead International under its management team.  

LUFTHANSA

Lufthansa Cargo has released an eServices App offering comprehensive shipment tracking as well as direct feedback opportunities for mobile phones and tablets, including innovative image uploading.  The App also offers a clear overview of all current bookings.

 

PALL-EX GROUP

Pall-Ex Group is continuing its European expansion by signing a deal with one of Bulgaria’s largest transport and logistics providers, Econt, to start network operations in the country by mid-2016.  Econt has over 40% of the parcels market in the country.

GOVERNMENT GETS COLD FEET ON HEATHROW DECISION

Industry reacted with dismay to the news on 10 December that a decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport had been delayed again – until at least next summer.

Trade News

NEW TRADE DEAL

The World Trade Organisation signed what it claimed as an “historic” agreement on trade at its Tenth Ministerial Conference in Kenya on 19 December.  Central plank of the deal was a commitment to abolish export

 

GOVERNMENT GETS COLD FEET ON HEATHROW DECISION

Industry reacted with dismay to the news on 10 December that a decision on whether to build a third runway at Heathrow Airport had been delayed again – until at least next summer.