Newsletter – July 16, 2020

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

TIACA begins its search for a new director general

aircargonews.net

TIACA has commenced its search for the newly-created role of director general. Applications for the position can be submitted, by email to its Selection Committee, from July 14 to August 21.

Currently Céline Hourcade is heading the association as its transition director.

The director general will act as chief executive of the association while leading it to realise its vision of a “safe, profitable and united” air cargo industry that “embraces modern technologies and practices to sustainably and fairly serve trade and social development”. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Will container shipping reliability come back?

drewry.co.uk

Over the past few months, Drewry Supply Chain Advisors has organised and moderated weekly discussions with its shipper customers. As well as informing them about how the COVID-19 health crisis has impacted shipping schedules, cancelled sailings and port operations, sessions have helped encourage the exchange of views on how to best respond to the situation and mitigate risks from a logistics perspective. Read more here.

Ships from China cleared to berth on arrival, without quarantine, Chittagong

fleetmon.com

Chittagong Port authorities revoked quarantine order related to all ships arriving from China. For several months, all ships arriving from China, with average 11-day long voyage, were to undergo quarantine to fit in universal 14-day quarantine demand. The ships had to wait some 3-4 days until cleared for berth. Starting Jul 12, restriction is waived, the ships may proceed to berth immediately on arrival. China as of now, is recognized by Bangladeshi authorities, as a safe country with disease situation being under control. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Uber Freight seeking investors

freightwaves.com

Uber Technologies (NYSE: UBER) is reported to be in talks to take on additional investors in its digital brokerage unit, Uber Freight. Bloomberg published an article attributed to “people with knowledge of the matter” who said the San Francisco-based company is seeking to raise $500 million in incremental funding. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

China says its economy grew 3.2% in the second quarter this year, rebounding from coronavirus

cnbc.com

China reported that the country’s GDP grew by 3.2% in the second quarter of this year, compared to a year ago — beating analysts’ expectations and rebounding from the first quarter’s contraction.

It comes as lockdowns to contain the coronavirus outbreak in China eased, and as Beijing rolled out stimulus measures to prop up its economy. Read more here.