Newsletter – September 1, 2020

AIR FREIGHT UPDATES

Air cargo recovery continues amid improving economic activity, says IATA

theloadstar.com

July saw the air cargo market stabilise further, according to the latest data from IATA. Cargo-tonne-km (CTKs) fell 13.5% year on year, although month-on-month, seasonally adjusted figures showed growth of 2.6%. IATA noted that manufacturing output and export orders were improving, indicating that CTKs should also continue to improve. Year-on-year, July capacity was down 31.2%, but up on June. Belly capacity remained low, at some 70% down year on year, but there was a 28.8% rise in freighter capacity. Read more here.

OCEAN FREIGHT UPDATES

Is China splitting smart supply chains into two digital ecosystems?

splash247.com

There has been progress within the maritime and shipping sector in creating a digital maritime ecosystem that is in the early stages of addressing data platform interoperability. The focus on the development of a common set of data communication standards would enable development of functional APIs, allowing seamless data exchange. However, recent geopolitical tensions, not just between the US and China, but between China and other nations as a response to Covid-19 is raising an interesting dilemma. Read more here.

Strong typhoon heading toward major Asian freight hub

freightwaves.com

Now that the tropical Atlantic is fairly quiet, focus is shifting to the western Pacific, where a strong typhoon could soon disrupt a major global freight market. Read more here.

GROUND AND RAIL FREIGHT UPDATES

Railways see untapped potential in Atlantic Canada ports

freightwaves.com

Canadian Pacific (NYSE: CP) and CN (NYSE: CNI) are vying to be the top freight railroad in Eastern Canada, with both companies seeing the Atlantic Canada ports as having untapped potential. Read more here.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS – GOVERNMENT UPDATES

Amazon Gets FAA Clearance To Launch Drone Delivery Trials

simpleflying.com

Retail giant Amazon will trial deliveries by drone later this year. The FAA recently gave Amazon the tick of approval to test the delivery method out. Don’t expect your latest order to get dropped on your doorstep by drone anytime too soon. But this highly controlled trial does bring it one step closer. Read more here.