China's exports declined 25.7 percent year-on-year in February, the fourth straight monthly decline, according to China's General Administration of Customs. Total foreign trade was US$124.95 billion in February, down 24.9 per cent year-on-year. Total Chinese exports in February amounted to US$64.9 billion, reflecting weak demand for Chinese goods in the US and Europe. The country's imports also slumped 24.1 per cent to $60.05 billion. China's trade surplus narrowed to US$4.84 billion, less than … [Read more...] about Chinese exports plunge 26% in February
Logistics
Cargo crime to jump as crisis deepens
The global economic downturn will lead to an increase in incidents of cargo crime in 2009, warns the Transported Asset Protection Association (TAPA). The latest statistics from the association's Incident Information Service (IIS) for the Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) region show 3,756 reported incidents of cargo crime during 2008 with a total loss value of more than ¢ã170.6 million. This figure will continue to grow with incident data still being collated for last year, according to … [Read more...] about Cargo crime to jump as crisis deepens
Toll completes BALtrans integration
Toll Global Forwarding (TGF) has completed the integration of BALtrans Logistics Worldwide and will use the new Asian forwarding and logistics operations as a platform to strengthen the TGF network in the Middle East, South Africa, Europe and North America. Toll Holdings of Australia acquired BALtrans Logistics in early 2008 and completed the re-branding of the company as Toll Global Forwarding on 27 February 2009. … [Read more...] about Toll completes BALtrans integration
Cargo exec says industry kidding itself
Air cargo management must "strip the veils of illusion from their eyes" in combating the worst recession since the industry began 60 years ago, according to industry stalwart Julian Keeling. Keeling said these illusions included the near obsession with China as the primary engine of growth. They also included offering complicated, expensive supply chain "solutions" to the shipper rather than concentrating on fast, reliable transportation of cargo. "Let's stop adding layers of outside management … [Read more...] about Cargo exec says industry kidding itself
Toll completes BALtrans integration
Australian international logistics group Toll has announced it has completed the integration of BALtrans, the Hong Kong-based worldwide forwarder/logistics provider it acquired in early 2008. Toll, now one of Asia's leading providers of integrated logistics services, said that with effect 1 March, BALtrans has been rebranded as Toll Global Forwarding (TGF). It said TGF would use the new Asian forwarding and logistics operations as a platform to strengthen the Toll network in the Middle East, … [Read more...] about Toll completes BALtrans integration
K+N considers global job cuts
Kuehne + Nagel Group (K+N) is reportedly considering 4,500 job cuts following the announcement of modest increases in earnings and revenue for 2008 and expressions of concerns over immediate future business prospects. In its annual results statement released this week, the Switzerland-based global forwarding and logistics provider commented that "for the time being there are no indications that world economy will recover quickly; therefore further volume reductions are expected in all business … [Read more...] about K+N considers global job cuts