ASIA Pacific airlines continued to see robust demand in May due to front-loading of shipments and rerouting of goods a from China to other markets in although the pace of growth began to slow down, reports London’s Air Cargo News.
International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), grew by three percent year on year in May, said the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA).
Weaker export volumes on the China-US route, partly due to the removal of de minimis for ecommerce goods, were offset by increased shipments to other markets.
These operating conditions were a continuation of those reported in April by the AAPA.
Offered freight capacity rose by 1.3 percent year on year, resulting in a one percentage point increase in the average international freight load factor to 62.8 percent for the month.
But despite the growth in air cargo business, the pace of growth moderated due to weaker export activity from key manufacturing economies, noted the AAPA.
Commenting on the first five months of the year, Subhas Menon, AAPA director general, said: “In the air cargo markets, international freight demand registered 4.5 percent growth, supported by front-loading of shipments and rerouting of goods to other gateways amidst mounting economic headwinds.”
Maersk launches its AI tool amid tariff uncertainty
MAERSK has launched “Maersk Trade & Tariff Studio”, a new digital solution designed to help global cargo owners regain control in an increasingly volatile trade environment, reports London’s Port Technology International.
As global trade faces a paradigm shift marked by rising tariffs, regulatory scrutiny, and disrupted customs processes, the new platform by Maersk aims to provide a centralised, Al-powered approach to customs and tariff management.
“For decades, global trade benefited from declining tariffs and fewer barriers. But for now, that has been put on hold,” said Lars karlsson, head of trade & customs consulting at Maersk.
“Today’s environment is detined by unpredictability, with ewly imposed and suddenly postponed tariffs creating what many four customers describe as tariffhaos’’, ” he said.
Maersk Trade & Taidio our answer to this challenge, brining clarity, compliance, agility and cost optimisation to global supply chains when goods are crossing borders.” said Mr Karlsson.
After comprehensive pilots with large customers, the solution will be available as of June 28 for cargo imported into the US.
The full roll-out covering the rest of the world is scheduled for August.
It is designed for use either as a component of Maersk’s broader. logistics offerings or as a standalone service.
Many companies operating globally still works with numerous local customs brokers, often resulting in inconsistent data, limited visibility, and missed opportunities for cost savings.
Maersk argues that this fragmented approach is increasingly problematic as tariffs become more dynamic.
Maersk data shows that: 5-6- percent of tariffs are overpaid on average due to a lack of centralised, data and optimisation; 20 percent of shipment delays are caused by poor customs preparation.
Only 50-55 percent of trade that is eligible for existing Free Trade Agreements (FTA) uses the respective FTAs.
More than 650 FTAs exist, but they are complex and companies often don’t have the resources to fully understand all applying details at the origin and destination.
Australia may dominate green shipping fuel supply
THE chairman of Australia’s Superpower Institute, Rod Sims, said the country has an opportunity to become the world’s dominant provider of green shipping fuel.
“If Australia secured 25 percent of the green shipping fuel trade, it would generate A$43 billion (US$28.1 billion) in export revenue and help our country become a major exporter of green energy- intensive products,” Mr Sims said.
But the country will “fail comprehensively” if progress were simply left to industry or consumers he said, so the government would have to pave the way acting in at least three policy areas.
Mr Sims made his comments at Maritime Industry’s 5th Maritime Decarbonisation Summit in Melbourne, reports ABC News.
He said recent regulatory developments in the maritime sector were playing into Australia’s hands.
Mr Sims said that in April, the international Maritime Organisation (IMO) approved its draft net zero regulations for the international shipping sector.
The new regulatory framework covers ocean-going vessels over 5,000 gross tonnage, which account for 85 percent of international shipping emissions.
The draft framework will need to be formally adopted in October, and then it will come into force in 2027.
Mr Sims said that when it came into force, it would create an effective “world carbon price for shipping fuel”.
And that will provide Australia with an opportunity.
One of the first places to start on Australia’s journey of being a major exporter of green energy intensive exports is in producing green shipping fuel,” he said.
Box shipping finds wind energy gaining traction
CONTAINER shipping’s adoption of wind energy is gaining traction within the maritime industry, reports UK’s Sea trade Maritime News.
An unfurling of projects for wind-powered container ships at this year’s St Nazaire shipping conference and exhibition could put the show on the road for wind power,
Wind for Goods punches above its weight; the biannual conference and pocket exhibition is held in a World War II submarine base on France’s west coast and, now in its third year, is growing every year.
A case in point is the 210-TEU containership for Wind coop, which sports a folding wing system supplied by CWS, Computed Wing Sail, for a dedicated service operating between Marseille and Madagascar.
Commercial development manager at Wind coop Erwan Gaubert said the vessel is designed to operate at nine knots but it requires a diesel engine as the wind around the Equator is minimal.
Even so, the Wind coop expects to make 60 percent fuel savings compared to a convention- ally-powered vessel.
Mr Gaubert said that the company is a cooperative which requires 80 percent of it profits to be reinvested in the company.
One of the coop members is Andy and Sara Kubiak, who founded the Vanilla Bean Project, out of Minnesota.
Exports from Africa to China to be tariff-free
CHINA will sign a new economic pact with Africa that will get rid of all tariffs on the 53 African states, Reuters reports.
The Asian economic giant offers duty – and quota-free market access to least developed countries (LDCs), including many in Africa, but the new initiative will level the playing field by also offering middle-income countries similar market access.
“China is ready to… welcome quality products from Africa to the Chinese market,” China’s foreign ministry said after a meeting of senior Chinese officials with African foreign ministers in Changsha to review implementation of commitments made during a summit in Beijing last September.
In recognition of the significant disadvantages that businesses from LDCs like Tanzania or Mali could face from their more developed counterparts like South Africa once the market is fully opened, China pledged additional measures to support LDCs, including training and marketing promotion.
China delivers first big methanol dual-fuel box ship
CHINA delivered its first 16,000-TEU methanol dual-fuel containership, with the Cosco Shipping Yangpu in Shanghai achieving three historic breakthroughs in large-scale methanol dual-fuel containership construction, reports Bejing’s Global Times.
This was the first order from a Chinese shipowner, the first delivery by a Chinese shipyard, and the first real-ship application of a domestically produced methanol engine, China Media Group (CMG) reported.
The 16,136-TEU vessel is equipped with an 11,000 cubic metre ultra-large methanol storage tank, it can complete a one-way voyage from the Far East to the US east coast without refuelling.
The ship is fitted with China’s first domestically developed methanol dual-fuel main engine, a dual-fuel marine boiler, and the first methanol generator set ever applied to a container ship in the country.
Its dual-fuel system allows flexible switching between fuel modes based on route requirements.
A partnership between Maersk and Saudi Post will boost e-commerce logistics
A.P. Moller-Maersk Saudi Arabia (Maersk) and Saudi Post Company (SPL) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to boost e-commerce logistics in Saudi Arabia and the broader GCC region.
The partnership merges Saudi Post’s nationwide logistics network with Maersk’s global supply chain expertise, offering end-to- end solutions for international ecommerce players.
Aligned with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, this collaboration aims to streamline cross-border operations and elevate service quality for customers entering or expanding in the region.
Under the agreement, Saudi Post will handle in-Kingdom operations, while Maersk manages international transport and origin services.
Maersk’s new Integrated Logistics Park in Jeddah will serve as the partnership’s key hub.
Ahmed Al Olaby, Director, Maersk Saudi Arabia, said: “We are excited to partner with Saudi Post, who operate an unparalleled distribution network in Saudi Arabia, to create an integrated logistics solution that addresses the growing demand for efficient ecommerce fulfilment in the country.
“Our extensive, global ocean network, along with the newly opened Integrated Logistics Park, would combine with Saudi Post’s extensive domestic network, positioning us to deliver world-class logistics services that support businesses looking to enter or expand in the Saudi market.”
Rouni Saad, The International Business Sales Director, SPL Group, stated: “The strategic collaboration between SPL and Maersk is pivotal in streamlining cross-border ecommerce flows to and from The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the wider GCC, enhancing connectivity, reliability, and growth opportunities across the region.”