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Containerlines set to double full-year profits


ON THE OCEAN The strict capacity management applied by container lines during the Covid-19 pandemic could see the sector as a whole more than doubling its full-year profit, despite a slump in volumes in the first half of the year, Sea-Intelligence reported. It added that in the second quarter of 2020, the combined profitability of those lines that report their results was the highest in that quarter since 2010.


September’s announcement by Maersk that its Damco and Safmarine business units will cease to exist as standalone brands at the end of this year has garnered plenty of discussion about what the news means in terms of liner shipping consolidation. In addition, a host of regional functions at another subsidiary, Hamburg Sud, are set to be brought under Maersk’s wing,


IN THE AIR Air cargo demand is stable but at lower levels than 2019, according to data released by IATA, which revealed cargo tonne kilometres in July dropped 13.5% year-on-year, a modest improvement from the 16.6% year-on-year drop recorded in June. Simultaneously, global capacity, measured in available cargo tonne kilometres, decreased by 31.2% in July year-on-year, compared with the 33.4% year-on- year drop in June.


While much of the air cargo world continues to focus on recovering from COVID-19, and the UK prepares for the end of the Brexit Transition period, London Heathrow Airport’s air cargo community has successfully completed its first trial of IATA’s ONE Record technologies, which aims to replace the legacy Cargo-Imp and XML standards.


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www.bifa.org Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business


of £131 million (compared with 16 in the first quarter of 2020, with a disclosed value of £210 million). The overall half-year figure was also down by a third compared with H1 2019.


A White Paper published by DHL and McKinsey & Co says the diversity of potential Covid-19 vaccines – and the unprecedented speed at which they are being developed – adds a level of complexity to the supply chain that will dwarf the inbound logistics requirements of medical supplies at the height of the pandemic. It underlined how the highly sensitive, temperature-controlled vaccine doses will be infinitely more complex to transport than personal protective equipment.


In early September, IATA urged governments to begin careful planning with industry stakeholders to ensure full preparedness when vaccines for Covid-19 are approved and available for distribution. It also warned of potentially severe capacity constraints in transporting vaccines by air.


IATA has launched IATA ONE Source, an online platform which helps the air cargo industry match shipping needs with the availability of infrastructure capabilities and certifications of service providers across the value chain.


GOING OVERLAND The volume of combined transport operations in Europe in the second quarter of 2020 fell by almost 15% year-on-year, according to a report by the International Union for Road- Rail Combined Transport (UIRR). This was a result of the Covid-19 crisis, with the economic restrictions due to the current pandemic continuing to place a heavy burden on combined transportation in the future.


A major investment into Manchester’s railway signalling


system will improve journeys for freight on one of the key rail arteries into Manchester and for the Trafford Park freight terminal. Signalling upgrades to Freightliner Manchester terminal and DB Cargo & GB Railfreight at the Trafford Park Euro Terminal will bring operational benefits, including an increase in the frequency and length of trains that can operate to and from the terminals.


Four main rail freight companies came together in September at Mossend International Railfreight Park (MIRP) with their electric and hybrid locomotives, in support of the decarbonisation of the logistics supply chain network. It was the first time they had been pictured together in one location.


IN BUSINESS Transaction volumes in the UK logistics industry fell by 50% in the second quarter of 2020, according to national accountancy and business advisory firm BDO LLP. It reported that eight deals were completed from April to the end of June 2020 with a disclosed value


ON THE QUAYSIDE The British Ports Association has welcomed the new legislation introduced to fast-track the planning processes for Brexit- related border infrastructure at and around ports, but is warning that there is still a lot to be done in a short period of time. It wants to see a swift roll-out of the government’s infrastructure ambitions so that its members’ gateways to Europe are ready.


The volume of freight tonnage moving through the UK’s ports fell by nearly a fifth in the second quarter of 2020, as the full impact of the pandemic took its toll, according to figures from the Department of Transport. Total volumes fell by 18% to 96.1 m tonnes, but the effect on unitised freight carried by containers, trucks and trailers fell by 44% to 3.2 million units.


IN BRICKS AND MORTAR Plans for a 1 million sq ft sustainable logistics park have been submitted to Knowsley Council by Tritax Symmetry. The scheme is being brought forward by the developer in conjunction with The Land Trust at the former Cronton Colliery in Knowsley.


October 2020


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