Industry News
Ian Matheson, from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business
DP World boosts rail freight volumes from Southampton
more than 60% year-on-year, from 3.3 million teu to 1.3million teu, as carriers opted for safe passage around the Cape of Good Hope. Large container vessels might become increasingly obsolete, according to the renowned economist, historian and journalist Marc Levinson, in a future trading landscape, where trade is more fragmented and regionalised, involving shipping over shorter distances, and where the volume of product shipped grows more slowly due to advances in technology. IN BUSINESS Allianz Trade says that charges implemented under the next phase of the Border Target Operating Model (BTOM) could add £2 billion in costs to businesses, as EU firms exporting to the UK are likely to pass the additional costs on to consumers. This compares with government predictions published in October 2023 that the additional cost of changes to business would be around £330 million. The World Trade Organization (WTO) anticipates a resurgence in global merchandise trade after a sluggish performance in 2023. Projections suggest a 2.6% growth in trade volume for the current year, followed by a further increase of 3.3% in 2025, driven by declining FIATA has published its latest best practice guide, which is available on the BIFA website, to help traders fight against cybercrime by equipping them with the knowledge and resources to fortify their businesses. It includes insights into the evolving threat landscape, practical strategies to anticipate cyberattacks, and expert guidance on managing incidents effectively. inflation and improved economic conditions.
OVERLAND DP World reports that following the Modal Shift Programme trial introduced last September, which is designed to increase the attractiveness of intermodal rail through financial incentives, it has achieved a 33% increase in the share of freight being transported by rail from its Southampton logistics hub (from 21% to 35%). The hub is supported by four new train services to Cardiff, East Midlands Gateway, Hams Hall and Doncaster. Maritime Transport has secured a contract to operate the new West Midlands Interchange’s strategic rail
freight interchange (SRFI) on the West Coast Mainline, the UK’s largest intermodal logistics site. IN THE AIR Ongoing Red Sea conflicts and e-commerce volumes pushed March air cargo demand up 11% year on year for the third consecutive month, according to Xeneta. Growth was driven primarily by increased volumes from the Middle East and South Asia as shippers shifted from ocean to air to avoid Red Sea delays. ON THE OCEAN P&O Ferries has launched its second hybrid-powered
vessel, P&O Liberté, on the Dover-Calais route, which along with its sistership P&O Pioneer, is powered by a hybrid system that reduces carbon emissions by up to 40% compared with older vessels. The UK government launched a bidding process in April for a share of £1.5 million of funds in the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition, which is looking to map out necessary infrastructure, costs and regulatory measures essential for the decarbonisation of shipping routes. It aims to create zero emission shipping routes between the UK, Netherlands, Norway, Denmark and Ireland. Stena Line has secured a freight-only vessel, Bore Song, to operate on its Dublin- Liverpool (Birkenhead) route, boosting freight capacity on the route by 30%. The dedicated freight service has been operational since mid- February. The International Transport Forum has published a background paper on the impact of the Red Sea crisis on shipping, supply chains and the environment. It also details policy considerations and calls for better cooperation between national authorities to ensure connectivity and transparency of surcharges. Diverting containerships to avoid Houthi air strikes in the Red Sea resulted in a 2million teu decline in Suez Canal traffic between 18 December and 7 January, according to analyst MDS Transmodal. This represented a decline of
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4 | May 2024
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