Industry News
Ian Matheson , from Impress Communications, reviews some recent news that might impact on Members’ business. Don’t miss Ian’s weekly news round up on BIFAlink TV, which can be seen on our You Tube channel. Subscribe by scanning the QR code.
Global container market expands 8% in fi ve years
customers and products moved by rail. The RHA has urged the government to prioritise businesses across the road transport sector as critical drivers of growth, in its submission to the Treasury’s spending review. Logistics real estate developer Tritax Big Box Developments (TBBD) has made new submissions to support its Development Consent Order (DCO) application for the Hinckley National Rail Freight Interchange (HNRFI), with Maritime Group already committed to operating a 40-acre Strategic Rail Freight Interchange at the site. IN THE AIR Glasgow Prestwick Airport has welcomed the launch by Hong Kong Air Cargo of flights from Hong Kong using an Airbus A330-200F. It says this is a clear sign that efforts to develop Prestwick as a leading e-commerce hub are delivering results. IATA has released its methodology for accounting and reporting the emissions reduction associated with the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) by airlines, which is an essential component of airline plans to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. IATA says its methodology fulfils the critical need to ensure that the contribution of SAF to aviation’s decarbonisation is accurately, consistently and transparently accounted. IN BUSINESS West Thames College in the logistics heartland of Heathrow has been rated by OFSTED as outstanding for quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development, leadership and management, education programmes for young people, adult learning programmes, and provision for learners with high needs.
ON THE OCEAN The global container market has grown 8% since 2019, ending at 183.2 million TEU for 2024, according to BIMCO, citing Container Trade Statistics. However, growth has been very uneven and regional imbalances between exports and imports have increased by 33%. Pending tariffs caused US box imports to soar in January, reaching a record high with deliveries from China up for a second month, according to Descartes. Imports for the month were at 2,487,470 TEU, surpassing the previous
record in January 2022 by 21,455 TEU. Most shipping stakeholders expect Suez Canal transits to resume before the end of
2025 and that Trump-related tariffs will escalate, according to a Drewry survey published in mid-February. However, the consultancy also said there is too much noise surrounding events that impact on container shipping to confidently predict its course in the short term. MSC has launched iReefer, an advanced container tracking and monitoring system for reefer cargo, which allows customers to track their temperature-controlled shipments in real time, anytime, and from anywhere in the world, providing information on position, temperature, humidity and more. From this month, the addition of a second ship by P&O Ferries will boost capacity by up to 60% on its Tilbury to Rotterdam route, which will continue to offer 12 sailings per week with daily departures from both Tilbury and Direct Rail Services (DRS) is trialling a rail service from Teesport to Manchester using ultra-low IDA wagons, which allow the carriage of standard high-cube containers, opening up the route to new Europoort. OVERLAND
4 | March 2025
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