Asian air freight demand fell 4.8 per cent in 2011 year on year, reflecting weak worldwide economic conditions according to the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA). But passenger numbers held up well in the Asia-Pacific region in 2011, increasing 3.5 per cent year on year with a 6.3 per cent increase in capacity. Air cargo capacity did not change. “Air cargo demand weakened significantly compared to the restocking surge…

CWT Globelink has announced the opening of two new offices in Bulgaria as the company continues to expand its network in Eastern Europe. The company has established two new offices in Sofia and Varna. Globelink Bulgaria will be under the charge of managing director Ben Lim, responsible for enhancing business in and around Bulgaria. The CWT Globelink Group now maintains a presence at more than 100 offices in more than…

New berth construction at Durban Container Terminal will result in 20 per cent fewer vessels, representing and estimated reduction of 400,000 TEU for two years or more, reports Fresh Plaza dot com, portal for fresh fruit news. In December, Transnet Port Terminals asked all shipping lines to reduce calls to Durban. Some ships will be handled by Point and Maydon Wharf Agri Ro Ro Terminal. Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has…

The 2.8 per cent growth in fourth quarter America’s gross domestic product (GDP) driven by rising consumer spending and robust manufacturing, representing the fastest rate of growth in 18 months, said the US Commerce Department. Quarterly consumer spending, 33 per cent of US economic activity, increased two per cent compared with 1.7 per cent in the third quarter and 0.7 per cent in the second quarter. But fourth quarter capital…

Japan’s NYK’s eastbound December transpacific volume rose seven per cent year on year, and increased three per cent in the last quarter of 2011, the carrier announced. In the last quarter, NYK throughput hit 1.6 million TEU, and in December came to 540,000 TEU. From April through December – fiscal year to date – eastbound transpacific volume was flat year on year at five million TEU. Westbound on the Asia-Europe…

Lufthansa Cargo has launched weekly service from its home base at to the US automotive metropolis of Detroit, using an MD-11 aircraft from January 23. Initially the route is being operated from Germany every Monday, and will switch to every Sunday with the commencement of the summer schedule. The airline said that the return flight will stop off in New York on the way back to Frankfurt, in a statement….

CARGOLUX Airlines has added a new Boeing 747-8 Freighter to its all-cargo fleet at Indianapolis International Airport to boost capacity on this US-Europe route, and ahead of the US Super Bowl in early February. The new aircraft provides a maximum payload capacity of 134 tons. Its arrival follows an announcement by the airline and global freight forwarder DB Schenker of adding a third weekly scheduled flight between Indianapolis and Luxembourg….

Portland International Airport has recorded increases in total cargo volume and passenger numbers handled last year, with 213,964 tons of freight and mail passing through its gates, up 2.3 per cent compared with 2010. Growth followed the launch of Asiana Cargo’s service to South Korea and beyond. The all-cargo service uses a Boeing 747 freighter to connect the airport to Asian cities, including Osaka, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Penang. A…

Chicago based United Continental Holdings (UAL) reported a narrowing fourth-quarter loss because of the costs of the merger of United and Continental airlines. United Continental losses narrowed to US$138 million year on year from $325 million. The year-earlier result included $485 million in merger charges with revenue growing 5.5 per cent to $8.9 billion. Cargo and other revenue in the fourth quarter increased 4.8 per cent, or $51 million year…

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) reports that the share of developing countries’ GDP in overall global economic output has increased from 17 per cent in 1980 to more than 28 per cent by 2010 with the growth projected to continue, according to its annual Review of Maritime Transport for 2011. The report also noted that developing countries’ share of global trade also increased from 30 per…

Chile carrier CSAV has raised a further US$129 million in share sales to total US$788 million towards its $1.2 billion capitalization. The troubled South American carrier’s aim is to create a separate entity for its SAAM, its port and terminal business, build on joint operations with other carriers and increase its owned fleet which totals 52,221 TEU by 30 per cent by June. Its chartered fleet stands at 71 vessels…

Geneva’s Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) has followed others in imposing a congestion surcharge of US$150 per TEU for services to the Kenyan port of Mombasa from February 1. “Persistent delays of more than 10 days in the port of Mombasa without any immediate solutions have prompted us to proceed with the implementation of a congestion surcharge,” the carrier said. Some other major carriers, including Maersk Line, CMA CGM and Emirates,…

MAERSK Line is to cut back capacity by 20 per cent on its Asia-Europe AE2 loop in March bringing its average capacity of 10,790 TEU to 8,612 TEU after adding a new service next month. The Danish carrier will reduce its five vessels of 13,000 TEU to 8,100 to 8,500-TEU ships and also drop a westbound Valencia call and replace it with Le Havre, reported American Shipper. In a related…

All Belgium seaports and airports are to be closed this week by a nationwide general strike in protest of austerity measures brought on by the Euro debt crisis. Some 50,000 protesters took to the streets of Brussels last month to protest against government cuts. In a notice to trade, Inchape Shipping Services (ISS) said: “We advise shipowners and operators not to attempt to deliver any cargo to Belgian ports on…

Hong Kong-listed China Merchants Holdings International (CMHI) is buying Sri Lanka-based Aitken Spence’s 30 per cent share in Colombo International Container Terminals, making the Chinese company the largest shareholder with 85 per cent control. CMHI and Aitken Spence has been joint venture partners in running the Sri Lanka’s container terminal operations. Together with CMHI, Aitken Spence was the only bidder for a terminal project worth US$500 million in 2009 under…