South Korean vehicle maker Hyundai’s logistics unit, Hyundai Glovis, has itself established a subsidiary in Chengdu, in China’s Sichuan province. Chengdu Glovis SCM, aims to help its parent to diversify into container rail freight – in 2020, Chengdu was the Chinese city with the second-most direct rail freight trains to Europe. Hyundai Glovis plans a...
It’s that time again – The Loadstar’s annual Christmas quiz. Given the sheer volume of news this year, we have divided it by month. Good luck! January There were “urgent calls” for a review on container lashings in January after the 13,092 teu Maersk Essen incident. How many boxes went overboard on its route...
“Shape-shifting” is how Sarah Banks, global freight and logistics lead at Accenture, describes 2021. There have, of course, been many changes, but perhaps the one with the longest-term effect is the massive growth in M&A, spurred on by vast profits, particularly for shipping lines. And the M&A news just keeps on coming, as...
Starting the year in lockdown and ending the year in lockdown, it all seems like a scene from the Bill Murray classic film Groundhog Day, but in between we did manage some valuable face-to-face networking. So here’s hoping we can finally kick this nasty virus into touch in 2022! Meanwhile, 2021 proved...
Neither an earnings call nor an interview with GXO Logistics’ senior leadership goes by without at least some reference to its investment in technology. It is the same across the transport and logistics industry spectrum of course but, while for many supply chain actors “tech” is largely a synonym for digitilisation, for contract...
Goodbye 2021, we’re done. But watch out, here comes 2022! How lucky I recently argued that we are in a supply chain stalemate, as ports around the world remain congested due to excessive numbers of out-of-position empty containers not being loaded for repatriation by the world’s shipping lines, among other factors. But how can...
Maersk’s proposed $3.6bn acquisition of Hong Kong-based LF Logistics represents a “significant milestone” in its transformation into a global integrator of container logistics, according to the CEO of its Ocean & Logistics division, Vincent Clerc. Maersk will purchase LF Logistics from controlling shareholder Li & Fung and Singapore state-owned investment vehicle Temasek, which...
MSC’s surprise last-minute €5.7bn bid to acquire Bolloré Africa Logistics from under the noses of its ocean carrier rivals represents a change of direction for the Aponte family business. Hitherto, MSC has relied on organic growth to rise to the top of the container line rankings, and has shied away from large-scale...
Maersk has signed a four-year contract with FMCG and food production giant Unilever to provide operational management of its global ocean and air freight transport. The agreement will also see the carrier develop and manage Unilever’s International Control Tower Solution, which will build on the Virtual Ocean Control Tower debuted earlier this...
DB Schenker has internally announced the appointment of a chief transformation officer (CTO), sources say, charged with leading the German group on a “sustained strength” trajectory after a “hugely successful stint” since the pandemic began in Q1 20. (UPDATE: the full announcement released today by the DB Schenker management board can be found below...
