Fracht Australia News - June 2019
1/6/2019
“Don’t promise customers the world and then give them an atlas……..”
Catherine De Vrye
FRACHT AUSTRIA ACQUIRES 100% OF BILLITZ GMBH AUSTRIA AND HUNGARY
We are delighted to welcome Billitz to the Fracht family! The company was founded in 1951 and specialises in comprehensive international logistics services for dangerous goods, sensitive cargoes and explosives including military equipment and weapons. Billitz also operates one of Austria’s largest logistics and storage facilities for class 1 dangerous goods. The acquisition is a perfect fit for Fracht Austria as it provides access into a new and important niche market.
AROUND THE WORLD
- GERMANY: PEACE LINE (SHIPPING) GMBH is on the move. Effective 3 June this Fracht-owned company’s new address will be Spaldingstrasse 218, D-20097 Hamburg. Phone numbers will remain unchanged.
- INDONESIA: Indonesian forwarders are starting to implement the collection of 1% VAT on freight collect export shipments to overseas customers. This tax regulation was originally issued in 2013 but the forwarding industry interpretation was that collection from overseas customers was not applicable. However, a recent tax audit revealed that overseas collection is required.
- NEW ZEALAND: The Port of Auckland’s new inland port just north of Hamilton is now open for business. The new freight hub is located in Waikato in the heart of the “Golden Triangle” bounded by Auckland and the Bay of Plenty. The Waikato freight hub is part of the Ports of Auckland’s rail connection North Island freight hub network.
- NEW ZEALAND: Auckland Airport launched the first phase of a massive development programme. The first phase of this multibillion Dollar infrastructure programme will include the expansion of its airfield, taxiways and remote stands to ultimately increase airfield space by 18%. The complete development programme will enable the airport to accommodate the projected increase in aircraft movements to 260,000 flights per year by 2044.
- PANAMA: El Nino is having a major impact on container traffic through the Panama Canal this year. Due to protracted drought conditions resulting in lower water levels maximum draught through the locks had to be reduced to 43 feet, down from 50 feet at the beginning of the year. This situation led to increased freight rates.
AIRFREIGHT NEWS
- SILKAIR LAUNCHED DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN SINGAPORE AND BUSAN. The regional arm of Singapore Airlines is the only carrier offering direct flights on this route. The service is operated by B737-800 aircraft four times per week.
- CATHAY PACIFIC WILL END ITS NON-STOP SERVICES BETWEEN CAIRNS AND HONG KONG on 26 October 2019. The route which has been in operation since 1993 had to be suspended due to commercial reasons.
- INTERNATIONAL AIRFREIGHT VOLUMES CONTINUED TO DROP IN MARCH 2019 according to figures released by IATA. While volumes in March were better than January / February the year to date statistics for the first quarter in 2019 compared to 2018 still shows –2.3% for international airfreight and –7% for the Asia Pacific region. This goes hand in hand with the fall in world trade volumes, combined with the slowing of the Chinese economy as well as the ongoing trade tensions between China and the USA.
SEAFREIGHT NEWS
- SHIPPING LINES HAVE COMMENCED INTRODUCIING “BLANK SAILINGS” due to a reduction of world trade. Hapag Lloyd cancelled MV Itali Lirica sailings departing Yokohama on 26 May as well as 7 July 2019.
- FURTHER GENERAL RATE INCREASES OF USD 200.00 PER TEU (twenty foot equivalent unit) have been advised for June from Asian ports but considering the soft market currently we doubt that this can be implemented in full.
AUSTRALIAN PORTS
- CONTAINER VOLUME AT PORT BOTANY IN THE MONTH OF MARCH WAS ONLY 195,168 TEU, DOWN 5.46% compared to the same month in 2018. The port handled 91 vessels in March this year which compares to 95 in March 2018.
- THE PORT OF MELBOURNE PROPOSES A NEW FEE OF AUD 15.00 PER TEU on all full imports to fund rail transportation at the port. At this stage exports are excluded. The proposal comes after consultation with rail stakeholders where there was a clear call for on-dock rail and open access arrangements.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
If you would like further information about any of the above items, please contact one of our friendly Fracht Team members at fracht@frachtsyd.com.au
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